Supports for early career early childhood professionals

The early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce are at the heart of Victoria’s education system. Due to the range and scale of the Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms, including funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and the introduction of Pre-Prep, it is important to recognise, develop and support the existing workforce.

The Victorian Government has invested over $6 million as part of the BSBL reforms, to deliver a range of targeted professional development supports to early career teachers and educators when they need it most – in their first 5 years of work.

Beginning Teacher Conferences

Beginning Teacher Conferences (BTC) support provisionally registered teachers’ induction into the Victorian early childhood sector, strengthen their professional practice and support them to develop knowledge and understanding of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, the National Quality Standard and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).

The conferences also provide an opportunity for early childhood teachers in the beginning stages of their career to build professional networks with peers.

The 2024 BTC series will feature 6 conferences, 3 virtual and 3 in-person. The conferences will focus on practical concepts and ideas for additional needs and challenging behaviours and feature facilitated deep dive discussions.

Now available, 2024 dates and registrations can be found here https://www.supportingecteachersvic.com.au/s/beginning-teachers(opens in a new window).

Professional development to support and develop your practice and build your professional identity

The End-to-End Career Supports Program is a great option for early career teachers and educators interested in receiving individualised one-on-one coaching or joining a Community of Practice (CoP). It allows you to explore problems of practice and meet other early childhood professionals.

This program enables teachers and diploma qualified educators working in the services with kindergarten funded program in the first 5 years of their careers to access wraparound supports outlined below.

Coaching

If you are an early childhood teacher or a diploma qualified educator in your first two years of practice, you are eligible to receive individualised one-on-one coaching to support you in the early stages of your career.

The independent coaches are not only qualified teachers, but also seasoned professionals with over 5 years of experience in the teaching profession. They bring to the table a wealth of practical knowledge and actionable strategies to support you in your professional journey.

Communities of Practice (CoP)

Held over 18 months, these CoP are for early childhood teachers and diploma qualified educators in the second to fifth year of their careers. A CoP is a collective of professionals who come together due to a shared concern, common problems, or interest in a particular subject.

CoPs nurture both individual and collective goals, leading to/towards high-quality practices in sync with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).

In 2024, 54 CoP series will be delivered either online and in-person in localities within each Department of Education region. Sessions are staggered across the year depending on demand.

Term 1 topics are listed below:

Alumni Conference

Once an early childhood teacher or a diploma qualified educator completed either coaching or CoP, they become eligible to attend the End-to-End Alumni Conference. The Conference is held once a year and focuses on advanced theory and practice. It is also a celebration of their first years as an early childhood professional.

How to register

To register your interest in this program or for further information regarding eligibility, visit the supplier Semann and Slattery’s website(opens in a new window).

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