There are a lot of teachers in Hannah Jordan’s family to thank on World Teachers’ Day – the QUT early childhood education student has a mum who’s a prep teacher, a sister who’s a primary school teacher, and uncles and aunties who are high school teachers.
By the end of next year Hannah will also be joining them as a qualified teacher – but she already understands very well the joy of making a difference in young lives.
She has worked in long day care for a decade and developed a passion for early childhood education and care (ECEC) before deciding to enrol in her Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) at QUT. The degree prepares specialist teachers to teach in prior-to-school settings such as long day care and kindergarten, through to the early years of school (Prep to Year 3).
It’s normally a four-year degree, but Hannah’s on-the-job experience combined with the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care she completed in 2020 means she qualified for QUT’s two-and-a-half year accelerated degree pathway.
She’s also studying with the help of a generous scholarship from her employer, national early learning provider G8 Education.
G8 supports the early learning sector through scholarship programs and partnerships with universities such as QUT. These programs enable team members to pursue their early childhood teaching qualifications while continuing to work in the sector.
“Having that practical knowledge and experience of working with children in a centre gives you such a great foundation to build on at university – I already knew this was the career for me before my first day of the degree,” Hannah said.
“I think the first five years are very important years of any child’s life – they pave the way for the future.
“Being a special part of their lives is so important … you set up those relationships and those foundations for learning and the rest of their schooling. Once children feel safe, secure and supported, they can thrive.”
Hannah began her degree as a full-time student, while also working, and is now studying part-time while working as a centre manager for G8’s The Learning Sanctuary centre in Brisbane’s CBD.
She said working with children was fun and inspiring and came naturally for her.
“I grew up with a massive family and I love being around family members of all ages,” she said.
“I have lots of people in my family who are teachers – I think we’ve just all got that nurturing nature.
“From about when I was in Year 10, after I’d finished high school for the year, I used to go into my mum’s school and help with the little preppies in her classroom. So, it’s something I’ve grown up with and knew I would enjoy as a career.”
Hannah, who is originally from New South Wales, had her first try at university interstate after she finished high school.
“I started a degree when I was 18 but I think I wasn’t ready – so I did a year of it and then I went and travelled to the UK and worked in early learning for two years there,” she said.
“When I was back in Australia and working for G8 Education in Queensland, I completed a Diploma of Early Childhood through my company – and my centre manager nominated me for the G8 Diploma Trainee of the Year award, which I won.
“I’d already decided I wanted to keep going and do our Bachelor of Education Scholarship to QUT, so getting the Trainee of the Year award really gave me the motivation and confidence to do more study and take on the degree.”
Hannah said she believed the most important part of education was ‘learning by doing’.
“I think the most important thing is doing that hands-on experience, like the teaching placements all university education students do,” she said.
“I did my first teaching placement in an ECEC setting in a C&K kindergarten and last year I had a placement at a primary school with a composite Year 2 and 3 class. I loved being able to make it fun for them and make them want to be there – if there’s fun behind it then the learning just comes naturally.”
Hannah said she was loving her degree, but acknowledged it was a challenge to combine work and study.
“It’s flexible though, and you can move between full-time and part-time – you can make it work for you and fit in with your life,” she said.
“I just keep picturing throwing that cap up in the air at the end of it, that keeps me going!
“If there are early childhood educators out there interested in becoming a teacher, I’d say go for it – progression is a good thing, it’s not a bad thing, so don’t be scared. There’s so much support available once you are here and there’s flexibility to make things work.”
The Head of the QUT School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Professor Susan Irvine, said the university had students studying three different education degrees – early childhood (birth to 8-years-old), primary school, and secondary school teaching.
She said many students entered the early childhood specialist degree through a pathway that included previous experience in ECEC and obtaining a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, usually through TAFE.
“There’s a well-documented national shortage of early childhood teachers at the moment, which has led to a big focus on flexible and accelerated pathways to become a teacher in Australia.
“We have a good pathway that has been tested over time – we’ve offered this entry pathway for more than 10 years.
“The course can be completed full time or part time, online or on campus. And we have amazing colleagues, support and resources to help students make the transition to university.”
Professor Irvine said in 2020 the National Skills Commission predicted Australia would need another 8000 qualified early childhood teachers by 2025.
“We’re not there yet – and that figure has probably now doubled due to the welcome commitments to expand preschool in Victoria and New South Wales, and Queensland supporting free access to kindergarten from 2024,” she said.
“There’s never been a better time to chose early childhood teaching as a career.”
Professor Irvine said World Teachers’ Day (October 27) was a great day to recognise teachers – but their efforts deserved applause 365 days of the year.
“Teachers make an extraordinary contribution to children and society, and those working in the early years set the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing,” she said.
“We expect a lot from teachers working in early education and they’re delivering. World Teachers’ Day provides an opportunity for us to stop and say thank you. But one day is not enough – we need to recognise their contribution and show gratitude in tangible ways across the year.”
Professor Irvine, who has led QUT’s School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education for nearly four years, said she remembered well her own first teaching jobs and what attracted her to the career.
“I decided that I wanted to be a teacher quite early, toward the end of primary school – and that decision firmed up in high school,” she said.
“I was certain I wanted to work with younger children because of the growth and learning that happens then. Young children are incredibly thoughtful and wise, and they have such a thirst for exploring and understanding more about their world. I thought it would be a great job – and it has proven to be a great job, with lots of variety and diverse career opportunities over the years.
“One of my first teaching positions was as a teacher in an early education class in a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It was a school with three teachers and about 70 students and a really strong sense of belonging … I had a class that spanned preschool, Year 1 and Year 2. I loved teaching then, and I still love it now.”
QUT Media contacts:
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