Building the early childhood workforce using supported traineeships

Abstract

The Early Childhood Education Traineeship Project (2022-2024), led by Chisholm Institute in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Jobs Victoria, aimed to address critical workforce shortages in early childhood. Initially targeting the employment of 150 trainees across the State of Victoria, the project exceeded expectations, employing 520 job seekers into traineeships. The program's success stemmed from targeted recruitment, comprehensive support structures including job readiness training, tailored mentoring, and financial incentives. The project focused on recruitment of job seekers from priority cohorts such as young people, long-term unemployed and culturally diverse backgrounds. Despite the attrition rate, consistent with national trends, the project facilitated clear pathways to employment and career advancement, with some progressing further onto higher level qualifications. Strong employer engagement, adaptive recruitment strategies, and a collaborative community of practice contributed to the program's success. The project's outcomes provide valuable insights for future workforce development initiatives in the early childhood education sector and in the field of apprenticeship and trainee recruitment.