Blog

There are many reasons to pursue a career in early childhood education and care. Careers in early childhood education can be rewarding, diverse and fun. The impact you have on young people can transform their lives and enrich yours, and the industry itself continues to grow and thrive too. Government legislation such as the National […]

Free kinder is now available to all three and four year olds at participating services in Victoria thanks to the government’s commitment of $9 billion in funding to kindergarten programs across the state. This means savings for parents as well as the creation of over 6,000 jobs in early childhood education.   With the demand […]

If you’re in Victoria and you’ve been researching your government-funded course options, or looking into what government funding is available to you for your aged care or early childhood education and care course, you have probably come across Skills First funding. The jargon can be confusing, so let’s do away with get clear on answers […]

Selmar Institute of Education teamed up with the Department of Jobs and Small Business, home care provider Calvary Community Care and Ternary a specialised recruiter in the health care sector to help deliver a quality workforce to Calvary and an opportunity for job seekers to find meaningful employment. Selmar created a 6-week refresher training program which was aligned to Calvary Community Care’s […]

Separation anxiety in children is a normal part of development. While it doesn’t affect all children it can be pretty common, and if you’re working in early childhood education you might come across varying degrees of separation anxiety in children as young as babies right through to primary school age. It might sound daunting, but […]

In 2019 there are over 447,000 Australians who are living with dementia. According to Dementia Australia, this figure is on the increase, with around 250 people adding to it each day. Dementia is also the second leading cause of death in Australia. Dementia Action Week takes place from September 16 to 22, 2019, timed to […]

The first five years of life are fundamental to a child’s future. The most crucial period of rapid brain development takes place during these early years and lays the foundation for children’s health, happiness, growth and wellbeing. The first five years are also when a child will likely spend time in early childhood education services, […]

Patient, kind, thoughtful, nurturing — these are just a few of the words that come to mind when thinking about early childhood educators and the incredible work they do each day. The first Wednesday of September each year is Early Childhood Educators Day, and there’s no better time to show the educators in your life […]

If you’re in the process of choosing a trainer provider to get your qualifications and career on track, there are some essential things to look for to make sure you get it right. Chances are you have come across your chosen course at a variety of vocational education and training (VET) training providers, from TAFE […]

Deciding where to study can be challenging, with seemingly many options to choose from to enrol in the same course. Certificates and Diplomas are delivered by a number of Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions, but when making your decision, it’s good to understand the key differences between the available providers of VET. Why is Vocational […]

To deliver the highest possible standard of care in early childhood education, first aid qualifications are vital. It’s not enough to have a first aid kit — knowing how to use it properly and administer potentially life-saving first aid is a must for safety in any industry. In the child care industry approved first aid […]

Wondering if a child care career is right for you? We’ve rounded up seven of the top reasons why working in child care is a great choice!     Excellent job prospects The child care sector is booming, with educators highly sought after across Australia. With the demand expected to continue to grow, a career […]

An engaged employee is one who is committed, loyal, hard-working, proactive and motivated. In other words, an engaged employee is the kind of employee you want working in your business, whether you’re in aged care, child care or any industry you can think of. Where do you discover this kind of employee engagement that’s going […]

Studying for a career in a meaningful industry where you can really make a difference is a goal for many, but you want to be sure there will be jobs available to you as well. Luckily, child care industry growth continues on an upward trajectory! The rise in demand for child care workers, educators and […]

 It’s one thing to read about working in early childhood education but getting in there and gaining hands-on experience is a vital part of your childcare course training. That’s why your childcare course is likely to have a practical placement component as a course requirement. It’s this real-world work experience that really enables our learners to graduate […]

If taking up VET training is on your to-do list, you’ve probably thought about how you’ll pay for it. What funding options are available for your childcare or aged care course and which are you eligible for?  Let’s summarise the options available to you when you undertake training so you can go ahead and choose the best funding option […]

Tax time has rolled around again and for anyone studying or planning to, it’s worth knowing what study expenses you can claim as deductions at the end of financial year. The Australian Tax Office makes it clear that you can claim many self-education deductions when you’re a student, as long as the course you are […]

What does it mean to be a leader in early childhood education? A genuine desire to contribute to the wellbeing and care of young children is usually the impetus for those seeking a leadership career within the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. You’re also going to need some key skills such as patience, […]

Students studying the Diploma of Early Childhood Education (CHC50121) at Selmar will now earn academic credits toward a Bachelor of Education with Swinburne Online, creating a pathway to university for Selmar learners.   Fast-tracking a Bachelor Degree in Education has never been more accessible. Credits earned through completion of the Diploma of Early Childhood Education will […]

Selmar teamed up with Goodstart Early Learning to host a careers session during March, which gave the attendees a chance to have a one-on-one interview that could lead to an early childhood educator job opportunity.   With Selmar early childhood education and care graduates holding the reputation for having the skills and confidence that make successful […]

Humans of Selmar: Melissa Walters Graduate & Centre Director // Goodstart Early Learning Torquay With a love for children, a child care career was a natural choice for Melissa Walters, Centre Director of Goodstart Early Learning Torquay. Melissa’s career in child care started straight out of high school, completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and […]

A look at aged care through the eyes of our trainers. Aged care trainers: Sally Forbes, Daniel Hau, Karen Richards and Glen Perry It’s often said that working in aged care isn’t a job that’s chosen at random, instead, it’s a vocation – people have a strong feeling it’s what they are meant to do. […]

Figuring out what you want to do after school can be both terrifying and overwhelming, especially with so many different options out there. If you’ve been thinking about a career in child care, there are a number of different opportunities that move beyond working in a child care centre. You can be an Au Pair […]

Working in childcare means you’re more than likely to come across children who are unwell from time to time, but a little knowledge can go a long way. Learn how to identify an illness and find out the right steps to take care of the child – and how to prevent germs from spreading. What […]

While some aged care residents may be quite happy with their routines, many older individuals look forward to trying something new or doing something fun or interesting. As an aged carer, introducing fun or different activities into the lives of those in your care can be as simple or as complex as you like. Here […]

  Childcare is required fairly equally for both boys and girls, so it makes sense that educators can also be male or female, doesn’t it? As children grow up in a society that is increasingly focused on equality issues, early childhood is definitely an area where a greater presence of male role models is needed. […]

Though practiced for thousands of years, yoga is still relatively new in western cultures – but it’s popularity just keeps growing. Yoga cultivates health and wellbeing through the regular practice of different movements, postures, breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation. It helps to build physical, emotional and mental strength and its benefits are certainly not confined […]

Every individual learns differently and it can be really useful to understand different learning styles. Visual, auditory and kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles theory focuses on these three main cognitive learning styles. Proposed by Neil Fleming in 1992, it can help you understand how you learn and what methods of learning suit you. Understanding your particular […]