16 May 2023 | 3 mins

If you're the kind of person who wants purpose in their career, you're in luck. The Department of Education Victoria has financial support schemes and/or Fee-Free TAFE to help you get qualified in your dream career. Here are just three of the great careers and skills you could check out:

Early Childhood Education

Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain develops by the time they turn 5? That’s why play-based learning in the years before school is so important – giving young kids the chance to enjoy the benefits that come with early childhood education.

Early childhood educators and teachers use their studies to design environments and learning experiences that are engaging, full of discovery, and based on children’s interests. As an early childhood teacher or educator, you will help children unlock their imagination and learn through play.

​​A career in early childhood education means you will have a lasting impact on the lives of young kids and their families.

The Victorian Government has made kindergarten programs free for 3- and 4-year-old kids – meaning it’s an exciting time to start a fulfilling career in early childhood education. There will be lots of new jobs created, with thousands of new early childhood educator and teacher positions available.

There are different ways to get started if you’re studying in Victoria:

Plus, if you’re out of state, the Victorian Government has financial incentives on offer to help you relocate to work in the Victorian early childhood sector.

Take a look at https://www.vic.gov.au/kinder for more info on what it’s like and how to get started!

Auslan

You’ve probably seen some viral videos going around of American Sign Language interpreters at festivals, superbowl performances and more - but did you know that Australia has its very own sign language? It’s called Auslan, and it’s used by more than 16,000 people across Australia. In fact, according to our National Census, that number has more than tripled from its first recording in 2001.

Auslan is used by Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, people with disabilities, friends and family of people who use Auslan, and plenty more people who are interested in an expressive, interesting and community-driven language.

You can use Auslan in jobs such as disability support and interpreting, but you can also use it in your everyday life too. You can complete a Diploma of Auslan, or an Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Auslan) tuition-fee free in Victoria.

Mental Health

Around 1 in 5 Aussies will experience mental ill-health every year, and anyone who’s gone through it themselves or knows someone going through it can know how tough it can be.

It’s really important that we have people working in spaces such as the disability, employment, social work and respite care services that have the tools to provide them the tools and support they need to improve their quality of life.

The Certificate IV in Mental Health is currently tuition-fee free in Victoria, and has a range of specialisations depending on where you want to work, or what you’re most passionate about, including:

●      home-based outreach
●      respite care
●      rehabilitation programs
●      employment support.
 

So whatever your interest is, there's bound to be a great course to help you get there!