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As the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector continues to face an unprecedented workforce shortage, organisations such as Macquarie Community College are stepping up to the plate to prepare and deploy a skilled workforce in the ECEC sector. From its most recent cohort of graduates, 85% of the students enrolled in the course have gone on to gain employment in various related positions. To celebrate the success of Macquarie Community College’s Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, we spoke to graduates Palakshi and Payal on their experiences in the course and what they’re up to now.

We welcome 2023 with much excitement as we return to some kind of norm. There is something about starting a new year that encourages us to pause and reflect on how we can improve ourselves. Most of us will make that annual new year's resolution. Whether it's "exercise more", "change careers", and "learn new things", here are some tips on how to keep those plans in place and follow through your resolutions for 2023.

Despite experiencing significant barriers to study and enter the workforce, Sue Bryant's team of Child Care Trainers continue to deliver outstanding results from their students. “Nine out of ten students from the most recent graduating class were offered employment, with over 50 percent establishing themselves in full or part time work before they’d even finished the course”, notes Sue. Macquarie Community College have developed a new program called SKILLS4You to further bridge the gap and support learners through a holistic program. Each individual is assessed and a tailored plan developed based on their current learning and employment readiness.

Barsha arrived in 2008 from Bangladesh as a refugee, looking forward to the fresh start that a new life in Australia promised. At 30 years old, she thought she would be too old to start studying and start a new career in Childcare. But she soon found herself being inspired by older women in Australia who had kids and were able to have a career of their own too. Barsha enrolled in the Child Care Certificate course and has not looked back! She was offered a job during her work placement as she made such a great impression. In fact, 7 out of 8 of Barsha’s classmates were offered jobs during their work placement. After being there for less than a year, Barsha was awarded the ‘Educator of the Year’ award. Barsha says ‘Macquarie Community College is the best place if you want to study and make a career in Child Care. MCC supports women very well to build their careers. Child care is a huge industry where there’s lots of opportunities and they need more people. Now’s the best time to start – you’re never too old or young’.

“Find something that gives you hope for the future, then find people who will sit with you, guide you, and help you. We need help in the right way. I found this at Macquarie Community College, and it made all the difference.” The answer to improving everything in a new country, Ayana has found, is study. Correction: the right kind of study. Ayana was even offered a job during her work placement – before she graduated! Nowadays, Ayana is a successful worker in the Aged Care industry who enjoys heart-warming interactions with clients every day. However, Aged Care is a different industry from the one Ayana thought she’d be working in when she first migrated to Australia from Ethiopia.

“I want migrant women to know that they should not stop going after their dreams,” says Olga. Her career in Aged Care fits perfectly with her personal interests and love for people, and her flexible work hours fit neatly with her responsibilities to her family of five. Added to this, both work and training have introduced her to people from diverse cultures, giving her lifelong friends and a supportive community. SKILLS4You, a new program launched last month by Macquarie Community College, offers a program designed for migrant women wanting to work in aged care, disability care and child care.

Facing many disadvantages, Noura was able to find a new path to empowerment and employment through Macquarie Community College. Noura is now in high demand as a care worker, with several employers offering her work. SKILLS4You is a new program for migrant women to help people like Noura get into careers in Aged Care, Disability Care and Child Care - industries in high demand of workers. This new fee-free program for eligible students provides wrap around support services combined with formal training in English language, job readiness and formal qualification training.

Macquarie Community College is pleased to announce the launch of its SKILLS4You program, specially designed to train and support migrant women seeking careers in the care sector. SKILLS4You is tailored to increase opportunities for migrant women to gain skills for life and work in Australia, increasing their participation in employment pathways and connecting them with others in their local communities.

8 out of 11 students who recently completed their CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support, received job offers in the Aged Care and Disability industry. Some of these job offers were as a direct result from their work placements during their studies at Macquarie Community College. Work placements are organised for students to gain real life work experience whilst studying.

Olga and Aziza stood in the close knit, supportive group of about a dozen women. They congratulated each other as each received a statement of attainment for their CareerPathways course in aged and disability care from Macquarie Community College. This NSW Government-funded part qualification holds the key to a career they are all excited about.