A Truly Inspiring Trainee

Hints, Tips & Stories
 20 Mar 2024

Affinity Education Group offers fully funded Training for early childhood educators, and if you're looking for a new career, Taylah Draper is a terrific example of how far an Affinity Traineeship can take you!

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

MARCH 20, 2024

Affinity Education Group invests in its people at every stage of their early learning career, and if you’re just starting out, it definitely pays to know about their fully funded First Year Training program.  

This entry-level career-launcher takes you from Trainee to Early Childhood Educator in one year or less, which sets you on an amazing career path, without any study costs standing in your way.  

As part of the Training program, Affinity will pay for the entire cost of your Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care.   

They’ll do this whether you’re enrolled in Affinity Learning Academy, or completing your training through a TAFE/College work experience placement; and they’ll also pay for two hours per week of study time for full time trainees.  

You’ll get plenty of on-the-job training along the way, care of Affinity’s experienced Development Coaches, while having the job security of a centre-based role that enables you to earn while you learn.    

And from there, the sky’s the limit!  

As a Cert III qualified Educator, you can then enrol in a fully funded Diploma in Early Education and Care, which qualifies you to take a higher paid role as a Lead Educator; and Affinity also provides support to help you work towards a bigger role in teaching, management or corporate life.   

Wherever you want to go with your career, Affinity can help you on your way, and when we go back to the very start of your early learning journey, Taylah Draper is a great role model for your future success.   

Taylah is a first year Trainee who’s just been voted Townsville’s best childcare educator, and her career trajectory is remarkable, but also very relatable.   

Taylah began with no idea what she really wanted to do for a career, and signed up for Affinity’s fully funded First Year Training program after a friend explained that Milestones Early Learning Cranbrook was looking for staff.  

Taylah was bored after five years doing the same old job in retail, and despite having no experience working with kids, she has now forged a new career, found a real passion for early childhood education and care, and is about to finish her Cert III.  

All of this has happened in one year, and getting started wasn’t hard.  

Taylah simply walked into Milestones Cranbrook to enquire about employment opportunities, armed with a plan to complete her necessary first aid qualifications and get a Blue Card before she started.   

Centre Manager, Emma Dowsett, helped Taylah to land a job as a Trainee Educator in the Toddler room, and she was guided through the process of setting up a Traineeship.   

Very soon, Taylah was enrolled in her Cert III course through Affinity Learning Academy, completing clusters of course work, and regularly meeting with her Development Coach, Julia Barrett.  

Affinity paid for Taylah’s first aid training, as well as her Cert III course, and because she’s based in Queensland, Taylah also received an Australian Apprentice Training Support Payment (AATSP) for the Traineeship, which amounted to $600 after her first six months of continuous enrolment.  

As Taylah has worked though her Cert III, she’s been able to apply for days off work to focus on study; and her paid role ensures that she gets a regular wage and access to the Affinity Advantages employee benefits scheme, which provides discounted gym memberships, savings and other perks.   

Aside from the financial backing that Affinity provides, Taylah is also grateful for her team’s priceless support.   

They’ve been accommodating and flexible as she’s juggled work and study, and Taylah says, “I can hands-down say that I wouldn’t be able to be where I am today, without the help and knowledge of my Centre Manager, Emma Dowsett, Area Manager, Adriana Eve, and the whole team. It’s been amazing!”   

Taylah’s Development Coach, Julia Barrett, has also been a huge help, and Taylah explains that, “Julia comes into the centre once or twice a month. She sits with us for the whole day, sharing tips and answering questions, and I really like it when she comes in. She’s really helpful.”  

As a Trainee, Taylah has gained a huge amount of knowledge, experience and connections in a short time, and the best thing is that her early learning career is only just beginning!  

After she completes her Cert III in a few weeks, Taylah will take a little break from study to savour her achievements and gain some more practical knowledge.  

As an Affinity employee, Taylah gets free ongoing training, and she can choose to gain future accreditation via the Lifelong Learning Curriculum.  

This curriculum enables educators to deliver the Early Years Learning Framework, and also to deep-dive into research-based methodologies and strategies that are especially relevant to their role. 

Through the Lifelong Learning Curriculum, Taylah can gain knowledge and skills specific to the two- and three-year-olds she works with, and Affinity also offers a busy calendar of Professional Development sessions that Taylah can take part in.  

Going forward, Taylah is keen to progress her career with Affinity.   

Once she’s had a break from all those Cert III clusters, she plans to enrol in Affinity’s fully funded Diploma in Early Education and Care; and in time, Taylah would love to become a Bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teacher – with Affinity’s support, of course!    

They provide a fast-tracked and fully funded Bachelor degree for Diploma qualified Educators, so Taylah can look forward to graduating with a Bachelor degree and no HECS debt.   

Affinity also funds the placement period for Bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teachers, which means Taylah would have her full salary paid while she got this practical experience.   

Down the track, Taylah may also pursue a Cert III in Business and Management to level up her responsibility and salary, but for now, she’s getting huge personal reward from her current role.   

Taylah has truly found her calling in early learning, and feels so happy to be working with the Milestones Cranbrook team, families and, most of all, children.   

Taylah says, “I get such a sense of joy and fulfilment from showing the children love and support and teaching them that they’re worthy of this.  

“And although I never actually knew what I wanted to do, before working at Milestones Cranbrook, I now know that I want to, and need to, work with children.   

“It’s something that is very, very, very important to me, and I’m so glad that I applied for the Traineeship. It’s given me a real sense of purpose.”  

Taylah’s passion and dedication definitely resonated with all the people who voted her as Townsville’s best childcare educator, and if she’s inspired you to consider an Affinity Traineeship, then the next step is easy.  

Simply look for an Affinity Education Group centre near you, checking their ratings and reviews on KindiCare, then visit the Centre Manager directly to ask about their Trainee opportunities.  

Affinity recommends that you take along a cover letter and brief resume.  

Or, get in touch with Affinity’s Talent Team by applying for a Traineeship you see advertised online at www.affinityeducation.com.au to start realising your potential as an amazing early childhood educator.  

Good luck to you, and a huge congratulations to Taylah for her very successful first year with Affinity!