Blog

Over the last year many have experienced the pandemic and post-pandemic blues. People have reported feeling “in limbo”, “drained” or even just feeling “meh”. While these aren’t what many might typically think of as mental health struggles, they are valid and real challenges that are being faced. The word that has been noted globally as […]

The pandemic has given us an opportunity to think about what it means to be effective leaders and in particular what it means to be a relational or ethical leader. Early childhood practitioners generally see crisis as a problematic state, but let’s not lose sight of the learning opportunities that a crisis creates. Now, that […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

 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 […]

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 […]

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) released the results of their annual National Student Outcomes Survey in December last year – and the data highlights strong satisfaction from employers and VET graduates.   NCVER, which is the main supplier of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector, surveyed 206,944 students – including […]

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 […]

     Humans of Selmar: Mei Lee Teoh Graduate & now Assistant Director // Guardian: Kids Time McKinnon When it comes to passion in the workplace, Mei’s love for her child care career is truly contagious. A qualified teacher in Malaysia, moving to Melbourne saw Mei ready to make a bit of a career shift and she […]

School readiness is a topic that the early childhood education industry is focused on enhancing, and for good reason — after all, childcare and kindergarten is where educators get the opportunity to give children the necessary tools to transition to life as schoolchildren! To support funded kindergarten programs in preparing children for the next stage […]

There are many roles to pursue in an early childhood education career. One position in a child care setting is Room Leader. This is the educator who is responsible for running a room. To become a Room Leader you’ll need experience along with the right qualifications. Things that are expected of a Room Leader can vary […]

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 […]

We’ve all been caught in the dilemma of trying to find a job with no experience under your belt. The job ads ask for on the job experience, but how can you get that experience when no one will give you a go without it? It seems impossible! Thankfully we have discovered the key to […]

A challenge of working in child care is discovering ways to engage children while also enhancing their development. Exploring the five senses with children in child care can open up your mind to many activities with the confidence that you are contributing to their development. The five senses are an excellent way for children to […]

Just like adults rights, children’s rights in child care are equally important. This includes children’s rights to ownership and control of their own bodies. They should feel safe and respected and understand that when it comes to their bodies, they have control of who can touch them. As child care providers, you play a vital […]

The role of child care worker involves challenges and patience, but it also involves a lot of fun. For example, cooking with children is not only an enjoyable activity — it’s perfect for children’s development too! Give children the chance to see how the food they eat is made. In some centres educators are even […]

Creating a hazard-free workplace is something that all employers and employees should aim to achieve – for plenty of reasons. From an economic point of view alone, workplace injuries cost the Australian economy more than $60 billion every year according to Work Focus Australia. And then there are the social, organisational and personal impacts on […]

  While some children arrive at centres with a smile and are happy to wave goodbye to mum or dad without a worry in the world, others aren’t as comfortable with the idea. Similarly, while some parents rush off to work after a quick hug and kiss, others find the drop off to be a […]

  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. […]

Easter is a time of the year when working in child care is especially fun! Children love Easter and the fun and games that come with it. From the concept of a magical bunny to the permission to eat more chocolate than usual, there are plenty of things for children to get excited about. When […]

What do children want from their child care providers? It’s a super-important question that’s surprisingly seldom asked. Surprising since ultimately, it’s children who child care professionals spend the most time with and have the most impact on. So aside from the expectations of employers, parents and co-workers, today we’re asking what’s important to children? Anyone […]

In recent years, Australia has witnessed a massive surge in demand for child care services. Today, more than 1.2 million children attend around 17,000 government-approved child care services nationwide; numbers which have grown massively over the past five years.   Like all industries, working in child care comes with a unique set of challenges and […]

It’s an awesome feeling when you’ve decided that you know what you want to study. You know child care is the path for you – you want to play a vital role in children’s lives, enriching their education and setting them up for lifelong learning. Choosing from the many child care courses in Melbourne (and […]

Now that you’ve decided to apply to enrol in an child care or aged care course at Selmar Institute of Education, don’t let your motivation slip during the festive season. With parties to attend, gifts to buy and family and friends to spend time with, it’s easy to push your goals to one side during this […]