Two Goodstart Grafton staff members have been awarded with rural and remote scholarships to support their Bachelor of Early Education studies.
Educational leader Michelle Call and educator Sabrina Allan successfully applied for the scholarships with support from their centre director Anita McLennan.
Ms Call said the scholarships benefited children, families and communities.
“The higher qualified the educators are, the better care and education they can provide,” Ms Call said.
“Living in a rural and remote area means that we have limited access to higher education facilities and have no other option to study other than via distance education.
“I had been considering commencing my bachelor for quite some time but was hesitant due to the large costs involved. The scholarship was the incentive I needed to make me further my professional development.”
Ms Call, who has been in the industry for 14 years, said she had always been passionate about early childhood education.
“It’s such a rewarding career to see children grow and develop into independent individuals and it’s amazing to think that what we do each and every day will help to shape the adults that they will become,” Ms Call said.
Ms Allen said the scholarships would support children’s learning in the most important years.
“I was very excited to be awarded the scholarship and it has so far made my study experience a little more relaxed in knowing that I will not have to be paying off a huge HECS debt at the end of my study,” she said.
“I learned early in my career in early childhood that working with children 0-5 years was my passion. I am a strong believer that the early years are the most important and I consider the opportunity to have such a huge impact on those years a privilege.”
Educational leader Michelle Call and educator Sabrina Allan successfully applied for the scholarships with support from their centre director Anita McLennan.
Ms Call said the scholarships benefited children, families and communities.
“The higher qualified the educators are, the better care and education they can provide,” Ms Call said.
“Living in a rural and remote area means that we have limited access to higher education facilities and have no other option to study other than via distance education.
“I had been considering commencing my bachelor for quite some time but was hesitant due to the large costs involved. The scholarship was the incentive I needed to make me further my professional development.”
Ms Call, who has been in the industry for 14 years, said she had always been passionate about early childhood education.
“It’s such a rewarding career to see children grow and develop into independent individuals and it’s amazing to think that what we do each and every day will help to shape the adults that they will become,” Ms Call said.
Ms Allen said the scholarships would support children’s learning in the most important years.
“I was very excited to be awarded the scholarship and it has so far made my study experience a little more relaxed in knowing that I will not have to be paying off a huge HECS debt at the end of my study,” she said.
“I learned early in my career in early childhood that working with children 0-5 years was my passion. I am a strong believer that the early years are the most important and I consider the opportunity to have such a huge impact on those years a privilege.”