A group of talented and enthusiastic child care students are creating history in 2019, becoming the first students to undertake a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in the classrooms of TAFE NSW Gunnedah.

TAFE NSW Deputy Regional General Manager, Adam Bennett, today revealed 20 students were enrolled in the Diploma, boosting their skills while securing their futures in the booming early child care industry.

“According to the 2019 Grattan Institute Risks and Rewards Report, there is an expected 18 per cent growth in child care jobs over the next five years Australia-wide, or about 30,000 new jobs,” Mr Bennett said.

“This is nearly twice the growth rate expected for professional jobs in Australia – and it should minimise the risk of any form of unemployment for people with Diplomas in this field.

“The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care course was introduced in Gunnedah this year because of growing industry demand, with 20 students enrolling from all of Gunnedah’s day care centres including Gunnedah Family Day Care, PCYC, Li’l Achievers, Mary Ranken Child Care Centre, Goodstart Early Learning and Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre.”

Mr Bennett said before the course was introduced in Gunnedah in 2019, any local student that wanted to undertake the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in Gunnedah needed to travel to Tamworth or study through video technology.

“This is another example of how TAFE NSW is helping provide high-quality training to meet local and industry needs,” Mr Bennett said.

TAFE NSW Early Childhood Education and Care teachers Jenne Hawkins and Chantelle Cameron deliver the training each Thursday from 6-9pm. The students will graduate in June 2020.

“The Diploma is a nationally-recognised qualification that will help these students have the skills to apply for more senior supervisory roles such as directors, room leaders and centre managers,” Ms Hawkins said.

“The students’ attendance has been exemplary and their assessments have been of a very high quality. They are all really enthusiastic and eager to learn – they’re a great group to teach.”

For more information about the range of courses available at TAFE NSW Gunnedah, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.