Trainee Cert III alongside uni studies

Doing a traineeship and a degree will take a lot of commitment and time management from your end. It will be a lot of work because you will be most likely be doing a full-time traineeship which will be a 38-hour working week and you will have to complete your cert 3 assignments as well as your uni degree... It is possible and I have had some students do this but you really have to be on top of your studies and work.

While doing your degree, you can actually begin working in a childcare centre since you will be "actively working towards" your qualification. Here is some more information:

Actively Working Towards A Qualification

So, this basically states that once you have completed 30% of your ECT degree you can be counted as a Diploma qualified educator.

I think you should start your degree and possibly find a job working in a centre so you can gain some experience...

,
Lorina

BTW - Congratulations on completing Year 12!!

When do you turn 18?

,
Lorina

Thanks Lorina!! still second guessing myself whether I should take on such a workload. I turn 18 next april

Well, it's really up to you... You could directly do the degree while gaining experience working in child care... Or you could do the Diploma, work in childcare for a year or so, confirm that's what you want to do then go to uni... Or do both.... Choices, choices, choices!

,
Lorina

Hi, I know this is an older post but I wanted to put my two cents in as I'm about to start my cert 3 in ECE while studying at university so I may be able to provide some information

I started my degree in 2016 while working in fast food. For various reasons I could not bear to work in fast food, and I was getting too old (and expensive) to keep getting regular, decent hours (I'll be nineteen in March). So I began job hunting and long story short was offered a part time role in an excellent centre, beginning in 2017, with two years to complete my Cert 3. Here's what I recommend to make it a bit easier if you choose to do both qualifications concurrently like me:

-If possible seek out a part time position so you have more time to focus on your uni studies
-Choose your university and the degree VERY CAREFULLY. I recommend choosing a flexible university which allows for online studies, evening classes, etc. My university offers a full external version of my degree (Arts/Secondary Education). If you're choosing to do a science heavy degree, even externally, be aware that you'll have a lot of pracs in which you'll physically need to be there, thus interfering with your work.
-Take advantage of summer classes! I'm doing two units over the summer break so I'll have a reduced workload when I start my Cert 3

My degree, whilst being in education, isn't related to childcare at all so I can't comment on the actively working towards your ECE qualification.

I'll let you know how I go (I start at my centre in less than a week). It's definitely possible as long as you're committed and organised

katiedawn wrote:Hi, I know this is an older post but I wanted to put my two cents in as I'm about to start my cert 3 in ECE while studying at university so I may be able to provide some information

I started my degree in 2016 while working in fast food. For various reasons I could not bear to work in fast food, and I was getting too old (and expensive) to keep getting regular, decent hours (I'll be nineteen in March). So I began job hunting and long story short was offered a part time role in an excellent centre, beginning in 2017, with two years to complete my Cert 3. Here's what I recommend to make it a bit easier if you choose to do both qualifications concurrently like me:

-If possible seek out a part time position so you have more time to focus on your uni studies
-Choose your university and the degree VERY CAREFULLY. I recommend choosing a flexible university which allows for online studies, evening classes, etc. My university offers a full external version of my degree (Arts/Secondary Education). If you're choosing to do a science heavy degree, even externally, be aware that you'll have a lot of pracs in which you'll physically need to be there, thus interfering with your work.
-Take advantage of summer classes! I'm doing two units over the summer break so I'll have a reduced workload when I start my Cert 3

My degree, whilst being in education, isn't related to childcare at all so I can't comment on the actively working towards your ECE qualification.

I'll let you know how I go (I start at my centre in less than a week). It's definitely possible as long as you're committed and organised

Hi Katie,

Thanks so much for this! It will definitely help out other students!

,
Lorina

katiedawn, Would love to hear how you manage all once you get settled!

Enjoy your new centre!

,
Lorina

Lorina wrote: katiedawn, Would love to hear how you manage all once you get settled!

Enjoy your new centre!

,
Lorina

Thank you I am really looking forward to starting, hopefully all goes well!

I'm sure it will! Great start to the year!

,
Lorina