Thinking about heading back to study in your later 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s? This means you will be returning as a mature age student. If it’s been a while since you last studied, whether it was in high school or undertaking a course, you might feel a little nervous. But there’s no need to worry – it’s not as daunting as it sounds.
Studying as a mature age student doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you choose a course that is best suited to your goals and circumstances.
There are many reasons to return to study, and gaining a new qualification might enable you to take the next step in your career. When deciding on an appropriate course you might ask yourself a few questions, like:
- Does this course offer flexible learning?
- Does this course suit my needs and aspirations?
- Will this course lead to rewarding career progression?
Once you’ve answered these questions you might consider some strategies which will help you ease back into learning. It’s never too late to return to study, and there are plenty of simple and effective ways to make the process easier.
Choose flexible learning
A good way to achieve a healthy balance between life and study is to choose a course with options for flexible learning. The transition to online learning fast-tracked by the pandemic has made accessing education a lot easier for many people, and there are a wide range of benefits to studying online. For one thing, your schedule is up to you which makes it far easier to manage study with work or family commitments.
Flexible learning doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on practical training or support either. Catalyst’s registered training organisations have a dedicated team of trainers and professionals who support you every step of the way, and connect you to all the resources you need.
Get organised
Organisation and planning are the keys to managing a busy schedule, and if you have a lot on your plate it might be a good idea to get everything ready before your course commences. This might look like:
- Preparing for study by purchasing materials like books and stationery
- Understanding what is expected of you in terms of assessment
- Taking note of key dates
- Arranging child care
- Adding study time into your weekly routine
- Planning your work roster around study dates
- Familiarising yourself with the online learning portal and any computer programs or technology that will help you to learn
With a little planning, you can ensure your transition to studying will be as smooth as possible.
Reach out for support
Remember that if you’re feeling overwhelmed, with the right trainer support is never far away. Your learning and wellbeing are the number one priority at Catalyst RTOs, and we encourage learners to take advantage of services designed to ensure you feel capable and supported. We have Learner Success Teams so learners have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss challenges to help identify solutions to any issues you might face. The types of things the Learner Success Teams can help with are:
- Language support, including for those who may not have English as their first language
- Study tips for success
- Advice on how to maximise your learning potential
- Literacy and numeracy support
- Assistance with securing placement and preparing your resume
Taking advantage of support services means RTOs working together with learners to maximise the learning experience.
Embrace technology as a mature age student
Technology is something we cannot live without, but for some of us learning how to use it feels like a difficult, daunting or downright terrifying task. Whether you’re tech-savvy or have trouble turning your phone on, embracing technology can be really helpful in terms of study. If you’re worried, just remember that most of the technology used at quality RTOs is designed to be user-friendly. If you’re unsure how to use a program or device, don’t despair. Just ask for some help!
Returning to study could be the most rewarding thing you do and can change your life for the better. Catalyst’s RTOs specialise in aged care and early childhood education courses for those starting out right through to experienced individuals wanting to upskill. They also have a range of short courses that can level up your knowledge and skillset.
Head to our RTO websites to learn more about our course offerings and discover the fulfilment that can come from studying as a mature aged learner.
Each year International Women’s Day is acknowledged on 8 March with the mission of celebrating women across the world. It is a time to recognise how far we have come in the pursuit of gender equality but also how far we still have to go.
The message is clear: Women’s rights are human rights, and International Women’s Day encourages communities to reflect on how we can continue to do better.
Did you know that in 1911 only eight countries across the globe allowed women to vote? And while today we strive to achieve equal pay for men and women, equal work was unlikely, with women often denied the opportunity to enter the workforce.
In Australia, conversations are happening along with a gradual change toward equality in many areas. It’s exciting to know that today there are many women who feel they have not encountered discrimination or faced barriers to achieve success in their lives. Unfortunately that is not the experience of all women.
International Women’s Day is a call to action to stand up for women across the globe. This includes women who are further marginalised due to ethnicity, disability, religion and sexuality.
Women’s crucial contribution to the workforce and community
Caring, compassionate, talented, professional women fulfil the majority of care roles in Australia — a fact that should not be taken for granted.
At Catalyst Education’s RTOs we have seen many people make incredible and inspiring contributions to early childhood education and aged care, with the majority of these being women.
Their work changes lives for the better — laying the foundation for children to have the best start in life, and supporting the elderly to live with dignity as they age.
Challenging gender stereotypes in aged care and early childhood
In a gender-equal world we can provide more opportunities to reinforce the fact that caring is a human response of which both men and women are capable of. Gender equality can enable us to work together to make a difference.
Even in Australia, gender stereotypes continue to have an impact on career choices for both women and men. While providing care and the desire to help and make a difference to the wellbeing of others is a human quality evident across all genders, care roles are still typically viewed as roles for women.
While around 30 percent of aged recipients are men, only 10 percent of carers in the sector are male. Female aged care workers make up approximately 90 percent of the sector’s workforce. This significantly high percentage of women in aged care roles is similar across all western countries.
Meanwhile, early childhood education in Australia is equally available to young boys and girls, yet when it comes to the workforce, around 97 percent of educators are women. That leaves as little as three percent of educators who are male.
The movement behind days like International Women’s Day help us to empower women to reach their fullest potential as a human being, not just as a women.
Our thanks to women on IWD
Women are a vital part of our team as trainers, support staff and leaders. This International Women’s Day, and every day, we send our thanks to all women. To the women we work with, we acknowledge the brilliant work you accomplish and the immense contribution you make.
At Catalyst, we will continue to support women to find the right career for them and succeed at every level across the workforce and in our communities.
As schools return for the year ahead, the Victorian Government’s Head Start traineeship program will make its mark on the early childhood education sector.
Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship Program is supporting essential sectors like early childhood education to develop a highly skilled workforce while also allowing young people to make a start on their careers while completing their schooling.
Catalyst RTO Selmar is proud to be the partnering early childhood education course provider for the Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship Program.
What is the Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship Program?
Head Start is a new education pathway enabling secondary school students to make a start on vocational training. The program helps students to develop skills and experience that are valued by employers to students to get the best start in their careers.
Designed for students who are currently completing secondary school, Head Start presents the opportunity for young people to complete their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) while undertaking paid on-the-job training that leads to a vocational qualification.
The Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship Program recognises that students learn in different ways, have different passions and can empower them to make their own career choices.
As a school-based traineeship, Head Start tailors vocational qualifications to make it achievable for students to complete their secondary school studies, as well as vocational training and paid practical training.
Rather than leave school to pursue a qualification and employment, students can continue to complete their secondary schooling while gaining the confidence, capabilities and skills needed to thrive in growth sectors such as early childhood education.
How Head Start supports Early Childhood Education services
Trainees can be a valuable addition to your early childhood education workforce. Traineeships present an advantageous opportunity for employers in early childhood education who seek to effectively train staff on the job within their workplace environment. This means the chance to develop the ideal team for your workplace from their commencement of training and beyond.
The Head Start Apprenticeship Traineeship Program matches your early learning service to a committed trainee. From there, you will be provided with one-on-one support from the Head Start Coordinator.
The Head Start Coordinator will assist you by creating a Head Start Pathway Plan for your trainee that is tailored to your centre. A trainee will be supported through their CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care coursework. This means you can enjoy the benefits of adding a passionate trainee to your team, without disruption to the way you like to run your centre.
Head Start is an opportunity for your early childhood education service to grow, training employees to meet the needs and standards of your business, improving retention along the way.
Selmar’s partnership with Head Start
The team at Selmar is committed to supporting young people in becoming future-ready and for the early childhood education sector to build a high quality, talented workforce. As such, Selmar is excited to be partnering with Head Start as an approved early childhood education and care training provider.
The experienced team of trainers at Selmar will be delivering quality training and conducting practical placement observation to maximise the outcomes for all involved with Head Start.
Head Start is focused on empowering young people to make a difference in the meaningful early childhood education sector. For early learning services, highly skilled and confident employees are always sought after and Head Start trainees will be equipped with the training and practical experience to thrive.