More Victorians are getting the skills they need to begin a rewarding career in early childhood education, with the Allan Labor Government boosting training opportunities to ensure our youngest Victorians have the best start in life.

Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney and Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today met with staff at the Gowrie Victoria early learning centre in Carlton North to announce an investment of more than $6.28 million in eight early childhood training and skills projects across Victoria.

These grants will help more people begin a career in one of the state’s most in-demand industries, with improved recruitment approaches, professional development training and more culturally and linguistically diverse resources to ensure every Victorian has access to the training they need for the job they want.

The Early Learning Association of Australia will receive $1.7 million to create new upskilling and professional development opportunities for graduate students, while a $1.43 million grant to Federation University and YMCA will support a joint project to assess how gaming technology can be used in education modules for educators.

A $1.38 million grant will help Cire Training pilot new pathways into traineeships in early learning education and care services and South-West TAFE will receive more than $1.3 million to improve training and resources for students in Hamilton and Portland working towards their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

The Labor Government is helping more culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians thrive in the early childhood sector, with a $138,000 grant for the Gordon Institute of TAFE to support students from diverse communities with the option to include English as an Additional Language coursework in their studies.

Partners in Training Australia will receive almost $62,000 to create new education content for First Nations people studying early childhood education qualifications in Shepparton, while Balance Training Services will receive $75,000 to help reduce staff shortages in south-west Victoria.

A $207,400 grant will help Chisholm Institute bridge training gaps for students who have completed their Certificate III before 2013, and now want to study a Diploma of Early Childhood Education. The grant will back a new toolkit to help students seeking recognition of prior learning.

These projects are funded through programs that address the skills needs of Victoria’s evolving economy – the Victorian Regional and Specialist Training Fund, Workforce Training Innovation Fund and Workforce Skills Set Fund.

As part of Victoria’s nation leading Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Government has invested almost $370 million to attract new teachers and educators to the sector and support and upskill existing professionals.

Through our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Labor Government is transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents – especially women – to return to work or study if they choose.

Since 2014, the Government has invested more than $4 billion to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.