The blending of practical experience and formal education is a valuable combination in many professions, and in early childhood education, traineeships provide just that. Participants can ‘earn and learn’, while benefiting from a training approach that maximises hands-on experience and confidence for a fulfilling career.
Bright Sparks is a new trainee mentor program developed and delivered by Shine Bright early in 2025. There are now 21 trainees across 41 Shine Bright services.
Manager of People & Culture at Shine Bright, Ann Archer, said that the program was introduced to better align trainee contracts with TAFE programs and to ensure higher study completion rates for trainees.
“Our trainees are placed on 12-month fixed term contracts, but their TAFE programs are designed to run for up to four years. The idea is to provide wrap-around support for our trainees so that they can more quickly gain the skills and confidence they need in the classroom and progress their studies at a steady rate.
With the right support, our trainees can complete the theory component of each of their study units every 4-5 weeks, keeping them on track to meet the Department of Education requirements and ensuring a higher rate of study completion.
Shine Bright currently has 21 Trainees across its 41 services, supporting the educators and teachers of tomorrow.
The Bright Sparks traineeship is founded on the identification of key areas where additional support can make a real difference. The program consists of structured support with a dedicated mentor at each participating service and regular check-ins from a central office expert. Trainees also connect online in a regular Community of Practice where they can ask questions, share experiences, and build a sense of belonging.
We line up a mentor for each trainee in one of our 41 services who provide reflective support, answer questions and help trainees navigate any challenges.
Importantly, we acknowledge the commitment of our mentors by providing them with 1.5 hours per week of additional time to provide the support our trainees need.
Another important aspect of the Bright Sparks traineeship program is the rostering of student study time so that it aligns with the mentor at the service. The mentor is available for a three-hour block of study time and available to assist trainees with their study, should they need it.
Trainees begin in their allocated kindergarten as an additional teacher resource and after one term at the service, they are assessed on their readiness to move into ratio roles which means they can fulfil an educator role within the service.
“We are aware that trainees are sometimes used from day-one in kindergartens to fulfil educator ratios, but we want to ensure they have the skills and confidence before stepping into a role that they might not be ready for. This reduces the risk of overwhelming trainees and retaining them in the profession.
“In the future, we will look at moving our Bright Sparks between our 41 Shine Bright services to give them insight into different ways that teaching and care is delivered.
So far, our trainees are progressing through their studies at a steadier pace and feeling confident as they become part of the staff headcount in a kindergarten session.
Our Bright Sparks benefit from a culture of support, accountability and professional growth that is supported by structured learning and personal mentoring, making them a very welcome addition to the Shine Bright team.
To find out more about the Bright Sparks trainee program at Shine Bright, contact Kate McDonald: kate.mcdonald@shinebright.org.au
