Recognition First has changed its trading name to the Australian Early Childhood College and continues to work with children's services around Australia. Our systems,procedures and resources have been designed to ensure staff are trained and supported to achieve best quality graduates for the sector. We are also a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and our registration is regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Our Program Methodology
The College only works with students who are employed in regulated early childhood services. We have thousands of graduates across Australia supporting early childhood programs.
Research tells us that the best training happens as coaching models within organisations. We refine and master our skills and behaviours by working within our role not by being taken away to complete "training". We believe that “preservice training” does not graduate work ready staff, while work based training and assessment allows skills to be embedded in practices.
Many current programs require only minimal work practice hours Certificate III complete only 160 hours practice and Diploma only 280 hours. Our students work on average for 12 months for Cert III and 2 years for Diploma, as staff they learn and practice to work standards not merely student levels, directed activities target and focuses student skill development.
Our training and assessment program is broken into three main areas:
- Part 1 Theory – focus on underpinning knowledge, research and understanding
- Part 2 Work skills – student reflection and third-party report from workplace supervisor
- Part 3 National standards – regular visits allow quantitative assessments over time, assessor can provide independent feedback on skill level across sector, also supports young/inexperienced supervisors/managers as they bring a broader view.
Mentoring and professional conversations with colleagues and managers supplement this. Theory makes sense as links are drawn to practice, theory now has meaning we know this enhances how people learn and retain information. Workplace culture and pedagogy is embedded in their learning and development.
We believe contact for reflection, discussion and introduction of ideas and research is the key to success in learning, to support this the College provides the following supports:
- Regular planned visits– for training discussion, to check on work completed, observation of skill development. Visits also allow for regular feedback discussions and reporting on progress to student, service manager and lead educators.
- Phone – we recommend regular contact with trainers, students are encouraged to call, study time can then be supported and targeted. AECC ensures a trainer is always available in the office for support between 8.30 and 4.00 Monday to Friday (this will be available across all States)
- Email/ Texts are generally responded to very quickly our commitment is within 24 hours Monday to Friday
- Skype is an increasingly valuable resource, especially with high needs students
- NEW night contact times are being trialed in coming months, so students can call or join a skype session of an evening.
Australian Early Childhood College is committed to creating our program, in partnership with the workplace/employer. We train in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland and have trainers who support and visit students in their workplaces while they complete workbased distance training and assessment programs in Early Childhood Education and Care.
