Early Childhood – Sarah

After working in hospitality for many years, Sarah decided she had had enough of working on weekends and during holidays, and embarked on a new career path.

‘I thought about it for a while, then decided to work in early childhood, mostly because of the family-friendly hours,’ she says. ‘As a single mum with three kids, I knew I’d have to keep earning money as well as studying and looking after my family, and that it would be a challenge juggling it all while doing the course. But I also knew it was the right time to take the plunge.’

‘Why did I chose to do my Early Childhood Certificate III at CCG? Because my eldest son had completed his VCAL there, and CCG had been a really good experience for him. So I thought it would be a good place for me to study.’

During the course, Sarah’s trainers encouraged the students to seek placements with suitable employers. ‘The trainers have a lot of contacts in the industry and shared them with me which was very helpful. I found placements at Yarragon Childcare, Poowong Consolidated School, and as a nanny with a local family.’

Sarah has now completed her Certificate III and is employed as an early childhood professional at the Poowong Consolidated School. ‘My job is fantastic,’ she says. ‘My weekends and holidays are now free to spend with my kids. Without doing my Cert III none of this would have been possible.’

If you are considering a course at CCG, but worried that it might be too difficult, Sarah has a few words of advice: ‘Just give it a go. Persevere, even when you’re afraid of failing. Believe you can do it and you will achieve a really great result.’