Fast-track program to boost Queensland childcare educators

A new program - the first of its kind in Queensland - has been designed to boost early childhood teaching numbers in the midst of an ongoing workforce shortage.

A new program - the first of its kind in Queensland - has been designed to boost early childhood teaching numbers in the midst of an ongoing workforce shortage.

Launched by the Australian Catholic University, diploma-qualified educators are now able to fast-track their four-year equivalent early childhood teaching degree to just 18 months through the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) course.

In its first intake, it has already attracted 70 Queensland-based students who aim to upskill their qualifications to lead preschool classrooms.

ACU School of Education Early Childhood Lecturer Laurien Beane said the course was a “game changer” since it officially started in March this year.

“We’re really happy that we can bring this pioneering, accelerated course without the loss of quality ... the first of its kind in Queensland, to ensure that we close that gap and keep those services open for the children,” she said.

Ms Beane said the ground-breaking course, supported by the Queensland Government’s Qualifications Pathway Program, had students from all over Queensland including Cairns, Townsville, Thursday Island, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Warwick.

Early childhood worker Chloe Buchtmann. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“It’s vital that we upskill early childhood educators in city, regional, rural, and remote settings to ensure all families and communities have access to quality early childhood education and care,” she said.

Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) course Student Chloe Buchtmann, 39, has been in early childhood education for 20 years and said she wanted to “extend her skills”.

“Before I did the accelerated course, I was on track to finish in 2030 because I was doing it part-time,” she said.

“It was going to take me nine years.”

Ms Buchtmann described the course as “accessible” and said it was a wonderful opportunity.

“I work for Goodstart and they’re giving scholarships to people who are doing the course so that in itself, is huge. It just creates the accessible nature of this course for people in, say, my position, who have a young family, who are looking at paying rent or paying a mortgage.”

Set to finish next year, Ms Buchtmann said it was a great way for students to advance their skill sets, knowledge base and for long-serving people in the industry to get the recognition they deserved.

Created in partnership with Goodstart, Lady Gowrie and Affinity, and the early childhood teaching workforce, ACU National Head of the School of Education Professor Donna King said the course was to meet sector demand for high-calibre early childhood teachers.

“This course offers diploma-qualified early childhood educators a chance to study a rigorous teaching degree faster, but without any sacrifice to quality, content, or their working life,” Professor King said.

The new multi-mode course, which includes virtual reality-enhanced immersive learning experiences for students, involves an intensive work schedule and several weekend symposiums, offered in person and online, to help the future early childhood teachers learn, interact, and expand their professional networks.