Left to right: Kate McDonald, Alex Wheeler and Kayla Enever represented Shine Bright at the Murray Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network career expo in Swan Hill.
School students from the Swan Hill region attended a career expo hosted by Murray Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) and were inspired by Shine Bright staff who shared their experiences of daily life and career opportunities in the Early Childhood sector.
Alex Wheeler, Kate McDonald and Kayla Enever who represented Shine Bright at the event, know all too well the joys of working with young children and the importance of ensuring that the sector continues to attract the best and brightest minds. Belinda Shultz, Chief of Education, explains that as their first formal educators, early learning experts play a crucial role in developing young minds.
“We need to inspire school aged students into future study opportunities, traineeships and work placements in the early childhood education profession.
“This event sparked lots of interest from students and we have had several follow-up emails from young people wanting to know more, which is so promising.
“Swan Hill, in particular, needs more students engaged in Early Years education and Alex, Kate and Kayla were so proud to share their lived experience with students and to enthuse them about their futures and about our industry,” Belinda said.
A student adds his ‘thumbprint leaf’ to the collaborative artpiece at the career expo.
As an Early Years Manager of 40 services across central and northern Victoria, Shine Bright is committed to forming partnerships and engaging with other providers to better the sector and ultimately, to provide the highest quality care and education during early childhood.
“This event provided great networking opportunities, and our staff connected with local industry leaders, community service providers and training service providers such as Mallee Ace Training.
“When we all pull in the same direction, everyone in the sector benefits,” Belinda said.
Making every moment matter for young children is one of Shine Bright’s guiding philosophies and this was demonstrated at the careers expo without early learners even being in the room.
“On the expo table our staff had a collaborative art piece that the school students contributed to by leaving their painted thumbprint on a canvas to create leaves for a tree.
“Everyone has an inner child, full of wonder, curiosity and joy and it’s important to be reminded of this, especially if you are interested in a career in early childhood education,” Belinda said.
The Department of Education also shared information about career pathways and the Best Start, Best Life reform at the event.