Educators in Training
How G8 Education is tackling the early education workforce shortage.
BY BONNIE LAXTON-BLINKHORN, KINDICARE
Anyone who has seen the news recently knows we are in the middle of a critical skills shortage in early education. This lack of staff makes it challenging for services to operate and causes widespread disruption to families.
Sector vacancies are at an all-time high, and there are more than 7,200 positions currently advertised online across Australia.1 That number increased by 1,000 in the last six months, with 57 per cent of those vacancies in New South Wales and Victorian centres.
In an effort to tackle the staffing crisis head-on G8 Education, one of the country’s largest providers, has created more than 100 educator-in-training roles across NSW and Victoria. These roles make it possible for team members to study and work at the same time.
Chief People Transformation Officer, Tabitha Pearson, said G8 Education is committed to developing innovative strategies which make it easier to recruit and develop early education staff.
“We know we need to think differently if we want to overcome our current workforce challenges, which is why we are so excited to invest more in ‘growing our own’ and creating sector-leading study and development pathways for our current and prospective team,” said Ms Pearson.
The program means trainees have their fees paid and receive the support of a trainer who works with them to put their learning into practice as they study.
Zoe Bumpstead joined G8 Education’s Great Beginnings Mount Clear centre, six months ago as an educator-in-training after discovering the ‘earn while you learn’ traineeship offering.
Zoe said she had always wanted to start work in the early learning sector, but was worried about how she would juggle paid employment with study. This hasn’t been a problem for her under the educator-in-training program as the study is embedded into her daily routine.
“I have been so supported to succeed in both my study and on-the-floor practice by the team at the centre.
“Working in early childhood is just incredible. We get to witness huge milestones in children’s lives every day like learning to walk or saying their first words, and it is such a privilege to be a part of those moments,” she said.
Julie Wilshire, the Centre Manager at Great Beginnings Mount Clear, started as a trainee with G8 Education 10 years ago, so she understands first-hand the importance of supporting trainees.
“Trainees bring fresh ideas and energy to centres which reignites the passion in teams.
“If we are going to overcome our current workforce shortage challenges, investing in growing our own educators and teachers and nurturing meaningful career pathways is so important.”
Great Beginnings Mount Clear is one of around 90 G8 Education centres currently recruiting for educators-in-training in New South Wales and Victoria.
G8 Education’s Study Pathways Program is a powerful tool in the company’s recruitment and retention strategy and company statistics show employees who complete a VET qualification through the Study Pathway Program stay, on average, twice as long as non-study pathways qualified team members.
You can learn more about the G8 Education program here >>>>
