Starting a new career in her 50s was easy for Sandra, thanks to the confidence, skills and knowledge she gained at the Northern Beaches & Mosman College.
It was a call from her daughter that led Sandra down a new career path. Life had seen her work as a nurse and midwife in her 30s before moving overseas and having a family. On returning to Australia, she’d spent 10 years as a personal assistant and was looking for something new when her daughter rang and she asked if Sandra would like to fill in at the daycare centre where she worked.
“I had a police check and a working with children’s check already, so I was pretty much okay to go,” Sandra recalls. After two weeks, the daycare director offered her a job – a traineeship.
It meant Sandra would earn money working at the centre three days a week, while completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care at the Northern Beaches Mosman College (NBMC).
As Sandra met the NSW Traineeship eligibility requirements, she was not required to pay any course fees to complete her certificate. “It removed the financial burden which allowed me to focus on my course,” Sandra explains. “I never had to worry about paying fees. It just motivated me to continue learning and pursuing my career.”
Sandra agreed on the mixed delivery course mode, combining workplace learning and distance study. Sandra accessed all course resources electronically, enabling her to complete her studies during workplace hours as well as in her own time. She was supported by a NBMC trainer who visited Sandra’s workplace on a regular basis to provide one-on-one learning, support and assessment feedback in person.
The flexibility and support offered by the staff at the college saw Sandra through COVID-19 and the subsequent loss of her job and traineeship – which she was able to pick up again once she gained new employment at a long daycare centre located in Mosman). Her studies continued where she’d left them, and after one more break to take a job outside the industry, Sandra returned to the Mosman long daycare centre and her studies, which she saw to completion.
Sandra then decided to challenge herself further and enrolled in the next level course, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, which she completed concurrently alongside a Certificate IV in School Based Education Support – both NSW Fee Free courses.
Sandra describes the diploma as an in-depth look at the Early Years Learning framework, which built on the knowledge she’d gained in the Certificate III course. While the education support course had her learning skills to help in supporting children with neurodiversity in the classroom.
Sandra was able to apply credits for learning already completed in her Certificate III to her next courses, meaning she could complete them in a shorter amount of time.
“(The courses) combined theory and practical learning, so I could apply what I’d learnt in the (NBMC) classroom out in my work area,” Sandra says. “(The trainers) were very knowledgeable and approachable – they invest a lot into the learning that they give.”
Sandra enjoyed heading into the Brookvale campus for classes, where she was able to meet other like-minded students of all ages. She says it was a collaborative environment, and she enjoyed the sharing of ideas from both the other students and the educators. “And the college has a relaxed learning environment. It was a fun way to learn,” she adds.
NBMC trainers taught relevant industry information – which gave Sandra confidence when entering her work placement at a primary school. “The school-based education course gave me the strategies for working with students with diverse learning needs,” she says. “So I felt really prepared when I stepped into that environment.”
Now 61, Sandra has completed all three courses and is looking forward to starting her new career as a support teacher. She has been offered a position at a local Northern Beaches primary school.
“You have to be prepared to commit to the time and effort that it takes to do the course, but it is incredibly rewarding,” Sandra says. “I loved all of my courses.”
- CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- CHC40225 Certificate IV in School Based Education Support
- More information on Traineeships
NBMC is a not-for-profit organisation located in Brookvale, which provides a number of accredited training courses in areas like business, childcare, counselling, aged care and more.
