Support you need to thrive
Melissa Carr, Assistant Educator, Goodstart Ballajurra, Western Australia
(part of the Goodstart family since 2011):
“To enjoy a successful career in early learning, you need to have a lot of heart and a lot of care. You also need a positive mindset and to be very open to learning.
“As Educators, we’re learning all the time because things change in early childhood education. We’re always building upon our knowledge and keeping up to date with the latest learning practices and expertise.
“If you’re a student or just beginning your career, Goodstart will fully support you. You won’t be left to figure things out on your own. You’ll receive specialised training and support from experienced team members and leaders. You just need to have initiative and a willingness to learn and develop.
“I think that goes hand in hand with being a great team player. You’re not just an individual at Goodstart; you’re part of a team, and we all help each other out.
“What we do is purposeful. It’s certainly not babysitting! Yes, we play with the children, but it has a purpose. It’s about educating children and setting them up for school and beyond. So, you need to be passionate and have that drive to educate, because education is at the heart of everything we do.”
Opportunities to learn and grow
Brendan Webb, Assistant Educator, Goodstart Hobart West
(part of the Goodstart family since 2019):
“In Years 11 and 12, I felt a lot of pressure to decide what career path to take. But when I finished high school, I wasn’t sure what to do and felt a bit lost. I explored a few different paths, like engineering and finance. It took me a few years to discover that I really enjoyed working with children. So, I began my Traineeship with Goodstart Early Learning, and I loved it!
“So, my advice for young people is that your career path isn’t set in stone. If you’re studying to work in a certain field or you’ve already started your career but not entirely happy with it, you can change directions and start a new career at any point.
“Early childhood education is a great career choice if you care about children’s learning outcomes. And at Goodstart, there are so many opportunities to learn and grow. You could start as a Trainee and work your way up to Centre Director. Or you can keep honing your skills and aim to be the best Educator you can be.”
A career full of heart and purpose
Emily Ritchie, Assistant Educator, Goodstart Myaree, Western Australia
(part of the Goodstart family since 2019):
“If you’ve just finished school, take your time to think about what makes you happy and what kind of difference you want to make.
“Early learning is such a rewarding career, but you need to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. It’s not always easy, and you can invest a lot of yourself into your role as an Educator. But it’s that passion that helps you build special bonds with the children and makes it so worthwhile.
“Goodstart focuses on our personal and professional development, so there are always opportunities to learn and try new things. Each day is different, too. So, if you like variety and want to make a positive impact in children’s lives, you’ll love working in early learning.”