The 24-week Works Program, which combines weekly work experience with classroom learning, is opening doors to employment and new careers for people in the northern suburbs and the Gawler area.
One of the 2017 graduates, Trista Dennie (pictured below), 32, of Salisbury North, works full-time at the Stepping Stone centre in Evanston – her first full-time job.
She secured employment with Stepping Stone (SA) six weeks before she completed the course.
Trista has two children of her own and had only ever worked from home before doing the books for family businesses.
“It’s great to go off to work every day,” she said.
“I go to work happy and come home happy, I love it! Every day and each child is different. I definitely recommend the course to other people.”
Child Care Services Training Executive Director Lisa Tregenza said most participants got work with a child care centre as a result.
“If people who do this course show initiative and are punctual and diligent, there is a very good chance that they will get work,” she said.
“The weekly combination of theory and work experience gave participants a chance to quickly develop their skills and work out whether they have what it takes to work with children.
“You can test what you learn in class straight away in a childcare centre.”
Ms Tregenza said people who had been out of the workforce for some time to look after family should think about childcare as a career.
“They are able to multi-skill and they can use their life experience. The people that do this course gain in confidence every day.”
She said the course offered 'scaffolding' to people who might need support to study and to use computers.
Renewal SA General Manager, City and Place Management, Georgina Vasilevski, said Renewal SA was proud to again offer the childcare pre-employment program to people in the northern suburbs and surrounding areas.
“The program is ideal for people looking for work or a change of career,” she said. “It is developed and offered in close partnership with a leading childcare provider and equips participants to work in this growing field by providing them with comprehensive training and work experience.
“We offer our Works Program courses in northern Adelaide are offered to ensure that local communities and individuals benefit from our urban renewal activities.”
The Stepping Stone (SA) Early Development & Childcare Centres Pre-employment program is presented by Child Care Services Training and offered by Renewal SA’s Works Program, in association with Stepping Stone (SA) and the Department of Industry and Skills’ WorkReady initiative.
