When I see great stuff like this happening in Early Childhood, it gives me great faith and optimism for future generations

After my culinary adventures at Nowra, I jumped into the car and headed a bit further up the coast to Shellharbour. Shellharbour TAFE is nestled in at the bottom end of Lake Illawarra, with the campus offering a relaxing, spread out kind of feel. It's an ideal space for learning... plenty of fresh air.

The impressive and well-equipped Early Childhood Education facilities at Shellharbour TAFE are purpose built. The Early Childhood students are an engaging, lively and fun group, not averse to a bit of clowning around, such as taking an "Ellen-style" selfie for Instagram (I got to be Bradley Cooper!). When you come to think of it, a well-developed sense of fun is probably a good quality for someone who'll be working with toddlers and young children. At the end of this year, the first Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care students will complete their course, graduating in early 2015.

And we got to meet Ito Rivera! Illawarra TAFE's International Student of the Year, who is in his 3rd year of study in the Degree course. Ito is a livewire, hailing from the Philippines. He wants to take his skill worldwide, eventually  hoping to work with UNICEF, caring for children right across the globe.

The 1st Year Stage 1 students were a great bunch to meet and Ito spends a lot of time engaging and mentoring the Stage 1 group. Traditionally there's an underrepresentation of males in Childcare courses. Fortunately for Shellharbour TAFE they have a good selection of blokes to keep it balanced.

What's important for the guys (and the girls too) is for kids to have a balanced upbringing at childcare, just as they (mostly) do at home. It's important for them to know that children are provided with both male and female care to ensure they can grow up to be well rounded kids.

Ahh, when I see great stuff like this happening in Early Childhood, it gives me great faith and optimism for future generations of Aussies.

Next scheduled stop… Yallah Campus.