If you are planning to study in the field of Early Childhood Education, you will have personal preferences when it comes to campus culture but, you will certainly want to know the kinds of services an educational institution has in place to ensure students reach their true potential. Whether you are studying a Certificate 111 of Early Childhood Education and Care or a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, there are certain organisational features and services which will influence your enjoyment of the course and how confident you feel when looking for your first job in the field of Child Care.

As with all post-secondary school study, choosing a Child Care Course and an educational provider is a daunting task. A school’s website will have details of the various Child Care Courses and their eligibility requirements. When considering a particular provider, first and foremost, you need to check that the school meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for educational institutions. If you are an international student, it is particularly important to check that the institution is registered with CRICOS. This information should be clearly displayed on the school's website. Next, it's worth turning your attention to the Student Support Services offered to all students on campus. In addition to services available to all students on campus, check out any support services that are tailored specifically for those studying Child Care Courses.

Personal Preference

You need to be honest with yourself about your individual needs and capabilities when researching the various education providers if you want to find a good fit. For example, if you are an introvert, you may flourish at a smaller campus where there's arguably more opportunity to forge one-to-one relationships with staff and others in your Child Care course. On the other hand, if you are an extrovert, you may need the 'colour and movement' of a large, busy campus where there are lots of different people to energise and motivate you. This is just one characteristic you may want to take into account. If you need to travel by public transport to attend either the Certificate 111 or Diploma of Childhood Education and Care, be realistic about the amount of time you're prepared to spend traveling and how this will impact on your study.

If you would really rather not relocate to the city from a regional area, then don't. These days you should be able to find Child Care Courses near enough to home that you don't need to relocate. Again, be honest with yourself. You may be more likely to do well in your chosen course with the support of old friends and family nearby.

Student Support Services

You may be a student who has relocated from a small country town or city in order to take up a course in the area of Early Childhood Education and Care.  You may be an international student who has crossed the globe in order to study Early Childhood Education. You may have a disability or lack academic confidence. For these reasons it’s extremely important to check out the available Student Support Services. All campuses are obliged to provide basic support services but, some will provide services over and above the minimum. Research these services online and try to get some word of mouth recommendations on the various campuses.

Student support services should include: counselling (careers and personal), disability support, academic support, accommodation services (on or off-campus), services specifically designed to support international students and services designed to meet the needs of indigenous students. These services are available to all students, including those studying Child Care Courses.

After completing the Certificate 111 or Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care you will want a job. All campuses will have some kind of service dedicated to providing support in this area. These services go by different names but all seek to help you find employment by developing links with relevant industry representatives.

Who Enjoys Studying Early Childhood Education?

If we think about the kind of person who makes a good Early Childhood Educator or Carer, there are certain things we know. A good Early Childhood Educator or Carer needs to have enthusiasm and passion for children, tremendous patience, and an ability to communicate with young children, parents, colleagues and administrators. The field of Early Childhood Education also requires people to have an appreciation of the heterogeneous nature of the modern classroom. Today early childhood workers regardless of their specific role will need to work in a multicultural environment where children present with different expectations, and traditions based on cultural and ethnic differences. In terms of organisational skills, an Early Childhood Educator or Carer needs to plan but, 'plan to be flexible'. Young children are unpredictable and teachers need to be able to 'roll with the punches'. Those who are drawn to study Child Care Courses often have many of these qualities and then hone them during their Child Care Courses.

The Culture of Specific Child Care Courses

Students who have chosen to study a Certificate 111 or Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care will tend to thrive in an educational environment whose culture reflects the same values they themselves hold. That is, they will be more likely to flourish in an educational program that is nurturing, respects individual differences and offers well-structured courses and practical help in getting a job. As well as researching the support services available to all students on a campus, ask about the specific ways in which Early Childhood Education Programs encourage students to thrive.

Researching the Culture of Child Care Courses

See if you can find answers to the following questions on the organisation's website or call them and ask to speak to a Course Advisor in the area of Early Childhood Education:

1.              What orientation programs are available?

2.              What social events are held for students in the Child Care Courses?

3.              Is there a mentoring program for those studying Early Childhood Education?

4.              What is the classroom set-up like? Formal or informal?

5.              How many students will there be in an average classroom?

6.              What work experience will I engage in during my course?

7.              What percentage of Child Care graduates find work and in what period of time?