Four Gowrie Victoria educators recently graduated from a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Australian Catholic University (ACU).
Itsu, Evie, Lillianne and Divya (pictured below, left to right) all undertook the accelerated degree to further improve their knowledge in early childhood education. “Even though the accelerated course was quite intense and challenging for us, our commitment, hard work, and perseverance brought us to become successful teachers and successful leaders in our work with children, families, teams, and the community,” says Evie.
(L-R): Itsu, Evie, Lillianne and Divya
The educators received great support from their fellow educators and leaders. “We feel grateful for the opportunities, support, encouragement, and motivation from our team members at Gowrie who were always with us mentoring and guiding us throughout the accelerated course,” says Evie.
Speaking about Gowrie’s commitment to upskilling and furthering education, Executive Manager of Early Learning, Nicole, says that Gowrie has a culture of genuine curiosity and learning. “Real learning and growth happen when we’re curious, reflective and open-minded, and so this enables us to go beyond the surface and achieve better outcomes for all children that allow them to flourish and reach their fullest potential,” says Nicole. “We are incredibly proud of Itsu, Evie, Lilianne and Divya for their hard work and dedication to completing their studies and will continue making a positive impact on children and families for years to come.”
Gowrie recognises the value of ongoing learning for our people. As Nicole states, one example is the partnership we have with Australian Catholic University (ACU) that supports educators to upskill and complete their teaching degree. This partnership provides educators with the opportunity to fast track their study while still working. Educators are mentored by an experienced teacher, and they are able to complete placement while still being paid. “These learning opportunities benefit the learners and Gowrie alike,” says Nicole. “It is great to have experienced educators to step into teaching roles when they finish their studies.”
The educators are now determined to make a positive impact on delivering high-quality education for all children, using their advanced knowledge, pedagogy, and best practices they learned from the accelerated course to provide children with the best start in life.
