Supports for early career professionals

Find out about supports available for teachers and educators in their first 5 years in the profession.

An educator assisting children solve board puzzles around a table

The Victorian Early Childhood Early Career Supports program offers professional learning supports for early career and returning teachers and educators in their first 5 years of practice.

It provides tailored supports to strengthen a professional identity and chances to connect with peers through:

  • Beginning Teacher Conferences
  • Early Career Workshops
  • Early Career Coaching
  • Early Career Alumni conference.

For more information on these supports and their release dates, visit Supports for early career early childhood professionals.

Service leaders supporting their staff’s attendance in this program will benefit from:

  • improved staff retention and job satisfaction (National Quality Standard 4)
  • cultivation of a learning culture within the workplace, fostering continuous development (National Quality Standard 4)
  • increased organisational credibility, establishing the service as a leader in delivering high-quality education (National Quality Standard 7).

Beginning Teacher Conferences 2026

These conferences promote ongoing professional development and connection with peers, reinforcing professional identity and confidence in the early stage of professionals’ careers.

The 2026 conferences will support teachers at the start of their career to:

  • navigate the early childhood systems and frameworks
  • build professional identity and confidence
  • support wellbeing and sustainable careers
  • strengthen ethical, collaborative and inclusive practice.

Participation is open to:

  • early childhood teachers who are working in early childhood services with funded kindergarten programs and are in their first year of practice
  • those anticipated to graduate as early childhood teachers in the next 12 months.

Event details

In-person sessions

Dates:

  • Monday 10 August 2026
  • Friday 4 September 2026
  • Friday 2 October 2026.

Time: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Location: The Academy Presentation Hall, Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, 41 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne

Cost: fully funded at no additional cost to participant.

Online sessions

Dates:

  • Tuesday 18 August 2026
  • Tuesday 15 September 2026
  • Friday 16 October 2026.

Time: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Cost: fully funded at no cost to participant.

To express your interest, complete the short form on the EOI: Beginning Teacher Conferences webpage.

Find out more

For further enquiries about the Victorian Early Childhood Early Career Supports program, email: early.years.workforce@education.vic.gov.au

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