Partnership addresses early childhood education sector workforce demands

Approximately 1,400 G8 Education team members across 65 Queensland centres will have the opportunity to achieve a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care alongside their current employment.

In addition, the partnership will offer more than 200 school-based traineeships, that will provide a career pathway for high school students across the state. 

TAFE Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer, John Tucker said skilled workers are currently in high demand in the early education sector, and providing training and development opportunities will enable G8 educators to upskill and progress their career while employed in the sector.

“Offering new and existing G8 team members with fully funded qualifications is a positive incentive for them to stay in the sector and will ultimately achieve better outcomes for children through a workforce that is more highly qualified, skilled and valued,” said Mr Tucker.

“The partnership provides early educators with new professional pathways to develop their career, while supporting G8 Education with a learning and development program for their existing and potential team members.”

The three-year partnership improves access to training with more than 20 TAFE Queensland locations from North Queensland to the Gold Coast and west to the Darling Downs region offering Early Childhood Education and Care courses both online and on-campus.

G8 Education’s Acting Chief People and Culture Officer, Stewart Silk said the partnership is a positive and future focused initiative that will support the ongoing formal learning and development needs of G8 Education team members and will support high school students seeking to work in the sector.

“Our partnership with TAFE Queensland provides all our Queensland team members with access to sector leading teaching and learning facilities at their local TAFE Queensland campus which will provide a quality and consistent learning outcome which we are really excited about,” he said.

“Studying with TAFE Queensland, Australia’s 2023 Large Training Provider of the Year, team members at G8 Education’s childcare centres will receive the highest quality of training in Australia.”

This strategic partnership highlights the commitment of both TAFE Queensland and G8 Education to the professional development of early childhood educators but also sets a precedent for how educational institutions and private sector entities can collaborate to foster lifelong learning and career progression.