Santener's journey in early childhood education and care

Despite the challenges she faced, she embraced her journey with resilience and determination. When she moved to Australia as a teenager, she found a new home in Toowoomba and completed her high school studies.

After initially being unsure of what to study after high school, with the encouragement of her parents Santener decided to enrol at TAFE Queensland, becoming the first in her family to do so. Her large family also played a role in her decision.

“I have eight brothers and sisters. It's a very busy and hectic family, so they gave me the idea and the inspiration to learn about childcare,” explained Santener.

“As a deaf person, I really enjoy teaching others to sign as well.”

As a part-time student, Santener attends her course through a combination of online and on-campus learning and her experience has been enriched by hands-on activities.

“I participate in Zoom classes on Mondays and attend on-campus on Tuesdays at the Toowoomba campus,” said Santener.

“I’ve particularly enjoyed learning throughout my course with the interpreters. I also enjoyed a special presentation on Indigenous culture where we also had the opportunity to cook indigenous recipes as well as the CPR training unit.”

Santener enjoyed learning how to incorporate Indigenous ingredients into a recipe she can share in an early childhood education and care setting during an on-campus class.

Her journey was not without its challenges. As a deaf person, she often had to navigate communication barriers, especially during her industry placements.

The student support team at TAFE Queensland in collaboration with Santener, created fun, palm-sized cards to assist with communication between the staff and the children. About 30 cards in total were made, including phrases like slip, slop, slap, lunch time, emergency, cleaning, nappy change and red or blue mop for cleaning different areas

This is one of many examples in which Santener has used written communication to bridge the gap and educated others on how to communicate with her effectively.

As a result of own experiences, Santener has some clear and valuable advice to help guide potential students.

“My advice is to seek support, make appointments, and organise everything beforehand. With the right preparation and determination, anyone can succeed at TAFE Queensland,” she said.

And Santener is well on her journey to achieving her future career goals in education.

“My dream job is to be an Adolescent Literacy Model (ALM) mentor in Queensland schools, supporting deaf students and helping them navigate their own educational journeys,” she said.

Her journey with TAFE Queensland has not only paved the way for her future but also inspired others to pursue their dreams.

Our AccessAbility Support team can assist students by facilitating communication with educators, providing Auslan interpreters, readers, and scribes, offering one-on-one coaching and mentoring, recommending assistive technologies, and working with educators to implement reasonable adjustments and ensure learning materials are accessible.