Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program
Funded by the Victorian Government, the Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships program aims to increase the number of Certificate III, Diploma, and Degree qualified early childhood educators in Victoria.
Through tiered support and retention programs, successful recipients of the program will be supported through mentoring, support meetings, counselling, and academic workshops to complete their studies.
Available to residents in the Greater Shepparton, Wangaratta LGAs and Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie Shires, the program offers both workplace and classroom-based models, as a combination of:
- course work
- learning on the job
- recognition of learner’s prior knowledge and skills demonstrated in the workplace
- online learning
- workshops
- Immersion Program for early exposure to the Early Childhood Industry
- study groups where students can have direct contact with a teacher to seek guidance.
- regular workplace visits from Early Childhood Education and Care teachers to support learning and skill development.
- regular progress and support meetings during training
- Employability Skills support for participants including resume writing and interview practice
- Post-qualification support for employers and employees for three months to assist with transition to the workplace and future education pathways
- University partnerships that provide Education pathways.
Support
School students/school leavers
- Promotion of ECEC pathways and careers including information sessions and forums
- School based traineeships
- VET Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- Comprehensive review of prior education, skills, and knowledge
- Intensive support program to assist students to gather required evidence for RPL process, including workplace observation visits
- Regular progress and support meetings
- Academic study support to ready students for transition into Diploma
- Drop-in sessions/study groups with both online and face-to-face options
- Bursary for financial assistance with travel and study costs
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
- Regular progress and support meetings
- Guest speaker events: topics relevant to building capabilities for a Certificate III level educator
- Immersion Program for early exposure to the Early Childhood Industry
- Allocate a host service work placement to embed theory into practice
- Support for workplace supervisors: evidence-based mentoring program for workplace supervisors to effectively support trainees
- Academic study support to ready students for transition into Diploma
- Support on the job with regular workplace visits from TAFE Teacher to support skill development
- Drop-in sessions/study groups with both online and face-to-face options
- Bursary for financial assistance with travel and study costs
- Post-qualification support for employers and employees for three months to assist with transition to the workplace and future education pathways
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- Regular progress and support meetings
- Academic skills to support transition to university, including connecting with La Trobe University representatives on the academic requirements in the second half of the course.
- Guest speaker events, relevant to Diploma level, including Bachelor qualified early childhood teachers who have undertaken a VET to Higher Education pathway to promote the early childhood profession.
- Support on the job with regular workplace visits from TAFE Trainer
- Drop-in sessions/study groups
- Mentoring for three months post qualification
- Bursary for financial assistance with travel and study costs
- Regional workshops
- Post-qualification support for employers and employees for three months to assist with transition to the workplace and future education pathways
Industry
- Industry engagement sessions
- Coaching and mentoring professional development to upskill senior industry staff to provide evidence-based workplace mentoring
- Professional Development opportunities
Industry workshops/Immersion Program
- Attend Weekly 3-hour workshops in a regulated early childhood service
- Build understanding of the educator role
- Develop relationships with children and educators
- Explore how a real Early Childhood service operates
- Strengthen their passion for early learning
- Discover whether an Early Childhood career is the right fit
- No assessment requirements or placement pressure, allowing students to freely observe, engage, and grow.
- Students are mentored throughout each workshop visit:
- Supported by their GOTAFE teacher
- Guided to interpret what they observe
- Encouraged to ask meaningful questions
- Helped to turn real-life moments into valuable learning experiences
Student Support Services
While you study at GOTAFE, there are many support services that can help you achieve your goals, including:
- Free Counselling
- Equitable Learning
- Welfare Support
- Koorie Students
- Apprentice Support
- Youth Accommodation
- Learning Skills Support
- Library
- Skills & Jobs
- IT Support
- Pathways & Placements
- Refugee Support
Study options
The program can be entered into at the Certificate III (including school-based traineeship and VDSS) or Diploma level.
Learn more about GOTAFE's Early Childhood Education and Care courses and university pathways via the links below:
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care (CHC30121)
Latest News:
Regional Students Begin Pathway to a Career in Early Childhood Education
In the first week of February, 58 secondary school students from across regional Victoria proudly commenced their VET Delivered to School Students (VDSS) program in Early Childhood Education and Care, undertaken as part of the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Tertiary Partnerships (ETCP) initiative.
This year’s cohort includes:
- 32 students in Shepparton
- 10 students in Wangaratta
- 16 students in Seymour
The program represents an exciting first step for these young people as they begin a structured pathway toward a rewarding career in the early childhood sector. Through hands‑on learning, real‑world experience, and supported vocational training, the ETCP initiative is helping equip students with the foundational skills and industry understanding needed to thrive in future early childhood roles.
By strengthening local training opportunities, the program also plays a vital role in building a skilled regional workforce—supporting children, families, and communities across Victoria.
We are proud to support these motivated young learners and look forward to seeing the contribution they will make to children, families, and communities as they progress in their training.
