Early Childhood Education training program launched in Broome to tackle childcare crisis

A new Early Childhood Education and Care program has been launched in Broome in an effort to tackle the childcare crisis. Seven participants, mostly made up of young Aboriginal mothers looking to return to work, will take part in the Job Ready pre-employment program delivered by North Regional TAFE. The Broome cohort of trainees is the only regional group to undertake the program, while two other cohorts of the program will be trained in the metro area. North Regional TAFE Organisational Services acting director Chantal Adams said by delivering the training at Broome CIRCLE, the women are supported with access to creche facilities while they undertake the training. “Childcare is a critical service for local families and supports working parents to participate in the workforce across all industries,” she said. “As well as supporting working parents, the Early Childhood Education and Care Job Ready Program provides important upskilling opportunities for local childcare workers. “Providing wraparound support, including a structured mentoring support service for the duration of the program as well as work placements with employers, are examples of the ways the program helps to guide participants to the successful completion of their training.” Praising the program, Broome CIRCLE chief executive Denisa Konecny said it was a great collaborative partnership to address the childcare desert in Broome. “It’s a really great example of what collaboration among the different services can achieve and I think it should happen more to address other issues like homelessness,” she said. Regional Development Australia Kimberley acting director Kim Brown said RDA developed the program with the barriers facing regional particpants in mind. “We wanted to ensure our regional challenges and barriers were considered and addressed, assisting with the development of a more bespoke delivery of the program to better guarantee participation and retention of the identified cohort,” she said. Graduates of the program will gain credits towards an ECEC Certificate III and are offered support to transition into a traineeship with an employer or undertake further training to become a fully qualified early childhood educator. It comes after the Advertiser reported earlier this year that there were year-long waiting lists in Broome for childcare services and a Victoria University report labelled the Kimberley a “childcare desert”. Interested candidates can complete an expression of interest by going to the WA Jobs and Skills website.