Federation University's TAFE arm is seeking industry-qualified educators in the Wimmera, as it looks to roll out childcare training to its Wimmera campus in the next year.
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The institution's executive director Barry Wright's comments come after the state government committed $11.7 million to help universities cope with the demand for FreeTAFE courses.
It also comes as a shortage of daycare options in West Wimmera Shire continues.
The new money includes a $200,000 program to trial ways TAFEs can work with the not-for-profit early childhood sector to support work placements for students enrolled in The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and Certificate III in Early Childhood Education.
These courses are not available at the TAFE's Wimmera campus, but Mr Wright said they intended to deliver them both in the region in 2020.
"We are in the process of teacher recruitment, and the delivery will be based around that," he said.
"We are trying to recruit teachers at Horsham because at the moment I don't have enough staff to send up the highway to teach in the Wimmera."
Mr Wright said people who delivered the courses needed to have a TAFE teaching qualification.
"That is the difficulty, we're finding people who are really keen to engage with us, but they need Certificate IV in Training and Assessing as a minimum qualification," he said.
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"It takes you 12 months to get that, so we're trying to find people in the marketplace that are already qualified that have moved to the region. Otherwise, we will have to train people up and put them through that program, which we are already doing."
Mr Wright encouraged qualified Wimmera residents with childcare industry experience to contact him on 5327 8008 or visit Horsham campus on Baillie Street to lodge an expression of interest.
Edenhope an area of high need
Meanwhile, Uniting Wimmera wants Wimmera residents passionate about early childhood education to consider opening their own family daycare business.
The organisation is working to recruit family day care educators in the pockets of high need, such as Edenhope.
Regional early learning manager Paula Clarke said the former family day care educator in Edenhope left the role in early April, and the position has been vacant since then.
She said Uniting hoped to have a full team in place by next month.
"All new educators that come on board will be fully supported by our new family daycare team leader for the Wimmera, Donna Klitscher," she said.
"Most of the care is provided in the homes of the educators, but in Edenhope, we have an approved venue waiting and ready for the right person to step in and start providing care immediately."
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
