With more and more parents returning to the workforce, and more than 1.3 million children aged 12 and under expected to attend government-approved or funded child care service in 2018/19, the demand for qualified childcare educators is on the rise.

As of May 2017, there were 5,398 early childhood education services, including preschools, long day care, family day care and outside of school hours care centres across NSW. This number has grown by 42 per cent  since 2013 when there were 3,813[1].

For Campsie resident Joy Obashe, a career working and caring for children was the only thing she wanted to do, so she enrolled in the Certificate III in Early Education and Care at TAFE NSW Miller.

Upon completing her TAFE NSW studies, Joy gained employment working as an Early Childhood Educator in one of the child care centres at the University of New South Wales.

“I moved to Australia from Nigeria in March 2017 and after the birth of my baby, I enrolled at TAFE NSW Miller in June 2018. I hold a Degree in Educational Management but wanted to gain qualifications that were recognised in this country, so that I could get a job,” said Joy.

“I chose to study the course at TAFE NSW because of my passion for children. I love being a part of their lives especially at the development stage when they can be positively influenced. It’s so interesting yet also very fulfilling and rewarding watching them grow and achieve different milestones in their lives.”

“My teachers were wonderful, the quality of and standard of teaching at TAFE NSW are extremely high quality. I owe most of what I have learnt and know about the industry, to my TAFE NSW teachers.

The Certificate III in Early Education and Care is a nationally recognised qualification and is the legal minimum requirement required as a childcare worker. Students like Joy, learn all the fundamentals needed on how to care for children and nurture their development from qualified early childhood educators with current skill and knowledge.

While working in the industry and educating the children of our future, Joy has ambitions of doing further study and completing a Masters for Early Childhood Teaching.

To learn more about studying early childhood education and care at TAFE NSW visit www.tafensw.edu.au or call 131 601.

Media contact: Teresa Lane, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner 9796 5476, mobile 0412 773 887