Blog

At Selmar, we believe in minimising barriers to education. So, we’ve put together a helpful guide of everything you need to know about government funded courses, helping you start your learning journey with ease!     What is government funded training? Government-funded training refers to courses that are subsidised by state and federal governments, making […]

Making the right impression matters when you’re on the job hunt, and it’s super important in carving out your rewarding career in child care. Your cover letter paired with your resume is your chance to really shine from the get-go. Whether you’re new to early childhood education or have plenty of years of experience, writing […]

Qualifications and a passion for supporting children to thrive are essential for navigating a career the early childhood education sector. On top of that though, you’ll need an early childhood education resume that showcases your dedication and skills for this rewarding career. Whether you are an experienced educator or new to the world of early […]

As early childhood educators, nurturing children’s curiosity and creativity is always front of mind. With the festive period upon us, this is the perfect time to really embrace the fun of the holiday season. As with many events on the cultural calendar, Christmas has a range of traditions you can explore. One that can be […]

In Australia, the sun’s rays can be particularly harsh and embracing SunSmart practices is crucial for everyone to stay safe. With meteorologists predicting El Niño for the upcoming summer period, which means hot, dry waves, being SunSmart should be front of mind for educators and parents. As early childhood educators, creating a safe and nurturing […]

Nursery rhymes have been a beloved part of childhood for generations. Many are simple, they’re often very catchy, and sometimes they can be seemingly nonsense. One thing’s for sure — nursery rhyme verses play a vital role in children’s development, fostering literacy, rhythm, memory, and vocabulary. They can also contribute to nurturing strong bonds between educators, […]

As more and more Australian families embrace the fun of Halloween, you can’t miss the spooky decorations popping up all over the place. DIY decorations are an easy, cost-effective and inclusive way to celebrate Halloween in Early Childhood Education Centres.     Here are four fun craft ideas and activities to celebrate Halloween and bring […]

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn through play and feel loved and nurtured. Each is worthy of enjoying their childhood with the support of parents, carers, communities and, importantly, early childhood education providers. Children’s Week is a week that is dedicated to celebrating the needs, rights and achievements of children. It strongly advocates for the United […]

With October being regarded as Mental Health Month, and over two in five people experience a mental health condition at some point in their life, there are plenty of reasons to enhance understanding and support to generate wellness. Taking responsibility for managing our mental health and wellbeing is critical to getting through any tough time. […]

International Day of Sign Language takes place each year on September 23, reminding us all of the power of sign language. This is a day to celebrate and raise awareness of signing, and to take note of the importance of sign languages in society. Not only does sign language have enormous significance in deaf communities, […]

Literacy has a profound significance for children’s lives. Beyond just reading and writing, literacy is the key to unlock a world of opportunities, imagination, and lifelong learning. Each year on 8 September, International Literacy Day is celebrated across the world, observing the importance of literacy for all. In the early childhood education sector, this is […]

Early childhood educators enter children’s lives at a crucial time, nurturing babies, toddlers and preschoolers to safely explore their own capabilities and discover the world around them. Early Childhood Educators’ Day 2023 takes place on Wednesday 6 September and recognises the contribution early learning educators make to the wellbeing and development of children in their […]

Every year as tax time rolls around, students wonder what expenses they can claim to maximise their tax returns. Knowing what’s what when it comes to top student tax deductions is essential to make the most of tax time. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) allows you to claim your self-education expenses, so if your course is related […]

With Book Week just around the corner, it’s time for early childhood educators to reflect on how reading profoundly shapes a child’s growth. Beyond sparking imagination, reading sets the stage for language skills, cognitive development, and emotional understanding. This year, Book Week is taking place from August 19 to 25. As this exciting week approaches, […]

When you’re looking to kick off a career or find employment in your chosen sector, a strong online presence can go a long way. It’s not uncommon for employers to look for new candidates or research prospective employees on the internet. This means if you apply for a job you can expect that your LinkedIn […]

Our grads have spoken! The 2022 survey results from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) are here, and they tell us we’re continuing to improve student outcomes and providing the right training to enhance employment in the aged care and childcare sectors. Selmar is committed to putting people at the heart of aged […]

Continued youth population growth in Australia, increasing female participation in the workforce, government reforms and increased government spending on the sector, combine to see Australia’s early learning sector boom and with that plenty of child care jobs for the foreseeable future. According to the Australian Productivity Commission, in 2019, throughout Australia there are almost 1.3 […]

To prevent boredom from creeping in while children are stuck inside at home, we’ve put together a number of fun activities that the whole family can enjoy! Home activities for children Fill out the form below to download the following activities now: Hidden Colours Experiment The Floor is Lava Nature Treasure Hunt – Bonus certificate included! […]

Aged care work is rewarding, challenging and a great career path for many. But how much is an aged care salary? And how can you go about getting a job? Aged care is a sector that is growing rapidly in Australia, and with the high demand for quality aged care workers to care for the […]

The Australian Government has announced the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package in direct response to the impact of COVID-19, to support childcare centres to remain open and keep educators within their jobs. This is to ensure that quality education and care can continue to be available for essential workers and disadvantaged and vulnerable […]

Practical placement is a hugely beneficial element of your early childhood course, which gives you the opportunity to apply what you have been learning in a real-life setting. With the guidance of early childhood professionals as well as your trainer, placement offers you the ability to gain new knowledge and skills within a workplace environment. […]

Achieving an NQS Rating of ‘Exceeding’ is the goal for most childcare centres when undergoing their assessment under the National Quality Framework. Your NQS Rating helps your centre to recognise that you are delivering a high standard of education and care. In addition, your NQS Rating can have an impact on your service’s occupancy, with […]

Bush kinder, inspired by the ‘forest schools’ of Denmark and Scandinavia has been doing just that. Doug Fargher, founder of Bush Kinder in Australia, highlights that children who spend time outdoors and connect with the natural environment tend to be healthier, happier, stronger and have a greater respect for the environment.     What are the benefits […]

A focus on wellbeing in the workplace is vital for individuals working in care industries like childcare and aged and disability care, to be effective in their roles. Educators and carers need the support, tools and opportunities to foster wellbeing in themselves — and those in their care — for all to thrive. From exercise […]

There’s no other time of year that has brings about the level of excitement in children that Christmas does, is there?! Coming up with fresh and fun Xmas activities each year can be tricky, so we’ve compiled a few that children will love — and so will the environment. Creating a healthy and happy future […]

Jess Sugarman trained as a trained Occupational Therapist. She started her career developing early intervention programs in early childhood centres for children between two and five years old who presented with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).   In her talk at Catalyst’s early childhood education and care industry roundtable, Jess addressed the strategies that can be used to best support children who present with ASD or other […]

Build it and they will come? As great as that would be, creating a successful and thriving childcare centre does require some conscientious effort, especially when you’re in the earlier stages Working closely with many early learning services, we frequently see what works best when it comes to marketing an early learning centre and attracting […]

Tracking enrolments, attendance and fees, documenting children’s learning, staff development and effective hiring are vital when running a successful childcare service. Thankfully technology that has been developed, sometimes specifically for the child care sector, helps make the administration of early childhood more streamlined and efficient for everyone. In this article, we’ve flagged some great tools […]

Making the decision to study for the first time or to go back to study is not always straightforward. You may be going back and forth about the decision, or you may believe a career change is not within your reach. Having the confidence to see the potential of a change and your ability to […]

 Play-based learning is at the heart and soul of Australia’s approach to early childhood education. And for good reason. Research shows that when it comes to optimal brain development in children, learning through play and exploration delivers results, going so far as to shape the structural design of the brain.    The Early Years Learning Framework defines play-based learning as […]