Fee-Free TAFE helps Tammy reskill as daycare educator
By Greg Chapman
CQUniversity’s childcare training and the Fee-Free TAFE program has helped Tammy Reynolds go back to the classroom and enhance her skills as a primary school teacher.
Tammy, who lives with her family on a farm north of Clermont, was on leave from teaching when she discovered she could still earn and learn as an educator in the childcare sector.
“I was initially looking for a way to get myself and my one-year-old out of the house for a day or two a week. I figured working at the local daycare was the perfect place to do exactly that,” she said.
“I then learned that you are required to have or be working towards a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education to be working at the daycare – I also learned that by completing the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, I would also be recognised as an Early Childhood Teacher."
Tammy enrolled at CQUniversity when she found out about the Fee-Free TAFE program (delivered in Central Queensland by CQU).
It's funded by the Australian and Queensland governments to meet the demand for skilled workers in various areas, including early childhood education and care.
“I was lucky enough to complete the course via Fee-Free TAFE. I looked at many other providers before discovering Fee-Free TAFE - and they were expensive.
“Being able to earn money while studying fee-free was great for us financially,” she said.
“I fell in love with studying again. It allowed me to get out of the house, earn some money, work with children, and further my education and qualifications.”
Tammy said CQU’s training was a new, but welcome challenge.
“The training was a very different style to my previous degrees, but it was good. It helped you to delve deeper and get a better understanding of the National Quality Framework, the National Laws and Regulations, and the Centre’s own policies and procedures.
“I plan to continue using the training to work casually as an early childhood educator, helping children to grow and learn throughout the important early years of their lives. The training will also be used to inform my teaching practices as a primary school teacher, as I now have a better understanding of children’s early years education.
“The course coordinators and teaching staff are the reason I would encourage people to study the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at CQU. They were responsive and supportive throughout the whole course. They were fantastic.
“Completing the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at CQU was great, and having the opportunity to complete it through Fee-Free TAFE was a big bonus. How can you turn down the opportunity for free education?”
Learn more about Fee-Free TAFE at CQUniversity
