With demand for early childhood education and care increasing in Orange, five new centres are opening this year to cater for a shortage of early education vacancies in the Central West.  
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TAFE NSW is currently taking enrolments for a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at TAFE NSW Orange, helping to train a new cohort of educators.

Data shows the demand for Australian early childhood educators is likely to grow by 7% in the decade from 2016 to 2026.

Orange local Stella Pepernell Baks is living out her childhood dream of becoming an early childhood educator after completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at TAFE NSW.

After completing her study at TAFE NSW, Stella secured a job at an Orange early childhood service, helping to meet the growing demand for trained early childhood workers in the Central West.
“I wanted to do early childhood my whole life. I just love seeing the children learning, and knowing I am a part of their development,” Stella said.

“TAFE NSW training helped me a lot. It was really good to have teachers with so many years of experience in the industry to teach us and give us advice.”

Following in her mother’s footsteps to a rewarding career in early childhood education, 18-year-old Stella encouraged others thinking about starting in the industry, to enroll in a Certificate III in Childhood Education and Care at TAFE NSW and begin their career.

“It’s the best job in the world, and I don’t think I have ever dreaded coming to work. Having kids smile at you and appreciate you is so rewarding,” Stella said.

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Early Childhood Education and Care, Susan Bird, said TAFE NSW training equips students with the job-ready skills to be successful in an industry that employs the largest number of people in the Central West.

“A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care equips students with the hands-on skills and experience that employers are looking for,” Ms Bird said. 

The new centres opening in Orange will be located at Kearneys Drive, the Waratahs Sports Ground, the Bloomfield Medical Precinct, in the centre of town and on the highway.

Media contact: Emily Barton, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, emily.barton11@tafensw.edu.au