Childcare student hopes kids feel loved every day

CQUniversity Early Childhood Education and Care student Chloe Dent hopes not only to find permanent employment in the childcare sector in rural Queensland, but more importantly, ensure young children “feel loved”.

Ensuring children feel loved is one of the key messages of International Children’s Day on 1 June - an initiative for children’s wellbeing and rights.

The day is celebrated as part of a greater cause that revolves around ending child abuse, ending the deprivation of children's rights, and making efforts to improve the lives of children all around the world.

Chloe, who started her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care studies at CQU in May, said that one of the main reasons she chose childcare was to help kids of the future grow.

“I want to help kids grow as people and figure out the world,” she said.

“I think it’s very important that children today know what it’s like to feel loved and cared for because I don’t think they necessarily do in today’s busy world.”

Chloe, who grew up on a cattle farm in Monto, said she was motivated to study childcare by family members.

“My mum was a teacher aide, and my grandmother and my grandmother’s sister were teacher aides, so yeah it’s definitely in the family,” she said.

“I was doing the Bachelor of Education, but I realised that I wanted to work with the younger kids.”

Chloe said she had been working at PCYC Outside of School Care in Rockhampton for a year.

“I decided to do the course because I feel it will give me more skills and knowledge to work with the younger kids,” she said.

“I feel like I am handling the course quite well so far.”

Chloe said she is also enjoying living in the Capricornia Residential College at CQU’s Rockhampton North campus, but hopes to return to rural Queensland once she completes her course.

“I would love to eventually work in a kindergarten or a daycare in a rural area one day for sure,” she said.

To learn more about CQU’s childcare courses visit https://www.cqu.edu.au/courses/childcare-courses