According to the 2022 Workforce Skills Survey, 9 in 10 businesses in NSW are struggling to find staff. This is especially critical for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) space.

Workforce constraints continue to be a major issue, with 11 per cent of centres across Australia requiring special permission to operate due to insufficient qualified staff as per a recent report from the NSW Treasury.

However, actions are being taken to reverse the shortage, with early learning centres connecting with organisations such as Macquarie Community College to both prepare and deploy a skilled workforce in the ECEC sector.

With a plethora of employees entering the market who have a passion for the early childhood sector, the relationship between Macquarie Community College and early learning centres such as North Rocks Preschool and Kidz Place Early Learning Centre seeks to identify these candidates and prepare them for work.

Constantly on the lookout for quality educators, Kidz Place Early Learning Centre has had several students from Macquarie Community College complete their work placement this year, resulting in employment opportunities for people like Mai Anh Thi Pham (Mai).

Originally from Vietnam, Mai and her sister Thi Hong Anh Pham (Anh) moved to Australia to start a new life with their families.

Both were stay-at-home mums who found it difficult to enter the Australian workforce and find jobs that suited their busy family lives.

“I was born in a family with only two daughters. Back in our time when we were young, the girls seemed to not be treated the same as boys. However, we are so lucky that my parents were very modern and thought forward and always gave us the best in everything they could,” said Mai.

“My sister and I both finished university in our home country. When we moved to Australia with only a language boundary – I tried so many jobs but could not find my passion.”

After Anh came across Macquarie Community College and found a suitable course, she invited her sister to join her. Together, they each completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, followed by a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Since completing their qualifications, they are now working in ECEC jobs they both love.

“After being a stay-at-home mum for 10 years I tried to go back to work so many times. All the roles available to me required long hours or weekend work which was not suitable for my family. I decided that I needed to invest in further education in order to open doors to more employment opportunities. When I stumbled across Macquarie Community College’s courses, I thought it was too good to be true,” said Anh.

“We were so lucky to receive job offers from the centres where we each did our work placement. We’ve found our dream workplaces and teams. I couldn’t ask for more,” said Mai.

Mai and Anh both confirm that if it wasn’t for Adult Community Education (ACE) providers like Macquarie Community College, those who are seeking jobs but are struggling with the limitations of English language skills wouldn’t find their perfect careers.

ACE providers are an exceptionally important but often overlooked part of the nation’s training infrastructure that moves people into employment in areas of critical skills shortage. Community colleges like Macquarie Community College are ready, willing and able to work with government, employers and individuals to close the workforce shortage gaps.