Beach Kindy Bliss

Struggling to support ‘prac’ placement for your studying ECT?

Introducing: Prac Swap

ACA Qld’s ‘Prac Swap’ is a free service whereby we seek to match two people needing to undertake a practicum placement (‘prac’) as part of their Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) degree, so that each can work in the other’s service for the period of the prac.

This has the advantage of neither person needing to take leave, and the service not needing to arrange another person to cover an absence.

The Prac Swap arrangement is covered by an agreement for which ACA Qld provides the template. ACA Qld is not a party to the arrangement.

Introducing: Flying Squad

ACA Qld’s ‘Flying Squad’ is a free service to assist ECEC services to access suitably qualified, temporary staff. Priority is currently being given to covering absences for studying ECTs to undertake prac, where a Prac Swap is unsuitable or not feasible.

The employment arrangements are a matter between the service and the Flying Squad member. ACA Qld is not a party to any resulting employment agreement.

To lodge your Expression of Interest in either or both initiatives, visit the Prac Swap and Flying Squad forms located under Services at qld.childcarealliance.org.au and let us know what you need. We’ll do our best to find you a match!

Any queries can be directed to wass@childcarealliance.org.au.

How do I become involved?

There is no charge for either service. ‘Prac Swap’ and ‘Flying Squad’ are initiatives of Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland (ACA Qld), proudly supported by the Queensland Government. ACA Qld is the state’s peak body for providers of early childhood education and care services.

Why RTO and employer relationships are valuable

Mandy Walker > Training & Operations Manager at the College for Australian Early Childhood Educators

Working and studying in Early childhood is like no other career path. Most educators have been a student while working part time or full time at some stage of their career. Balancing work, life and study is a challenge to which there is no one size fits all solution.

Working and studying in early childhood is like no other career path. Most educators have been a student while working part-time or full-time at some stage of their career. Balancing work, life and study is a challenge to which there is no one size fits all solution.

One barrier students may face when studying is having time, support, and guidance in the workplace to ask questions, complete practical tasks or implement plans. Students who have supportive employers progress much better in their studies as they feel supported and encouraged to complete. After all, it is beneficial for the employer to have quality qualified educators in their team.

The educator, the workplace and the RTO all need to be open, transparent, and flexible for the learner to be successful in their journey.

Some things you can do to be an active part of your educators study journey are:

• Have a copy of the educators training plan and due dates. • Ask for progress notes from the RTO. • Ask to be notified when the educator is not progressing (most RTOs should do this). • Complete any third-party reports or supervisor reports as requested. • Provide the RTO with feedback on their assessment practices.

Some things the RTO can do to support you and your educators:

• More frequent visits. • Arrange visits at a time that is suitable to you and your team. • Send monthly progression reports. • Request feedback from services on delivery and assessment practices.