Student Spotlight - Matilda Jolly
A school tour of GOTAFE helped turn Matilda’s dream into reality.
Matilda Jolly has always had a passion for working with children.
But it was a tour of GOTAFE while still in high school which helped her turn an idea into a study plan – and eventually a career in early childhood education.
“I’ve always wanted to work with young children, I actually have four little brothers, so it just comes really naturally to me,” she said.
“It all started in Year 11 when my school did a tour of GOTAFE, and we went to the early childhood room. I was like, this is something I really want to do in the future.
“Then I kind of got talking to some of the GOTAFE staff and (they said) you can do it while you are at school and then they gave me some options of how I might want to do it.”
It led to a busy 2024 for Matilda – starting her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121), finishing Year 12 and picking up a traineeship in the industry at the same time.
“I got work experience at a local kindergarten in Murchison and then I got signed up to work there one day a week on a traineeship while studying online with (GOTAFE),” Matilda said.
“It was a bit busy, but I managed it because the trainers are super supportive.”
Matilda has now been able to pick-up full-time work at Mooroopna Children’s Centre, finish her initial course – and start eyeing off a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121) later in the year.
“It’s been really rewarding,” Matilda said.
“I would definitely recommend to others to work in the industry while studying.
“I studied all online, I would have (video calls) with my trainer once a week and then she was also available any other time that I needed her for a chat which was really good.
“(The flexibility) worked really well for me, I was able to work at my own pace as well.
“I definitely would like to do the Diploma with GOTAFE, I’m going through the enrolment process now for July.”