Careers in Early Childhood

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Early Childhood Intervention

The Department is committed to ensuring that all Victorian children can participate in high quality early childhood intervention services and to providing support and early intervention where needed. It is a great time to consider a professional career in early childhood intervention.

Attractive scholarships and incentives are available to encourage professionals to work in an early childhood intervention service.

Early Childhood Intervention Professional Support Scheme

The Early Childhood Intervention Professional Support Scheme aims to support services to provide new professionals working in early childhood intervention with access to mentoring/clinical supervision and/or attend relevant professional development to assist them to further develop their knowledge and skills to work in early childhood intervention.

Changes to the Administration of the Early Childhood Intervention Professional Support Scheme

To streamline the administration of the ECI PSS, the Department in consultation with Early Childhood Intervention Australia, has developed a list of previously approved professional learning activities that have been most commonly requested by existing ECI PSS recipients. The list is for guidance only and should be read in conjunction with the Guidelines for Administration and Approval of Professional Learning Activities.

ECI PSS recipients require only the consent of their service manager to undertake suitable professional learning activities. Departmental approval for suitable courses and activities is not required by either the service manager or the ECI PSS recipient. Services (and Service Managers) are required to account for all expenditure under this Scheme and must sign and submit the DEECD approved Acquittal Form.

Applications for 2011/12 will be accepted in the following rounds:

  • Round 1 – Closed
  • Round 2 & 3 – Further dates may be announced after the release of the recommendations of the ECIS Reform Project Stage 2 to support implementation.

For queries, email ecis.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au or call 1300 651 66

Early Childhood Intervention New Graduate Incentive Scheme

The Early Childhood Intervention New Graduate Incentive Scheme aims to support recently graduated professionals who have commenced employment in an early childhood intervention service. Successful applicants will be required to work for two years in a service funded by DEECD to deliver early childhood intervention services. 

Successful applicants will receive a payment of up to $6000.

For more information, see:

Round 1 2011/12 - Open 31 October 2011, closed 13 January 2012
Round 2 - Opens 19 March 2012, closes 27 April 2012

Early Childhood Intervention Rural Incentive Scheme

The Early Childhood Intervention Rural Incentive Scheme aims to support professionals who have recently commenced employment in a rural early childhood intervention service. Successful applicants will be required to work for two years in a service funded by DEECD to deliver early childhood intervention services in rural Victoria. 

Successful applicants will receive a payment of up to $6000.

For more information, see:

Round 1 2011/12 - Open 31 October 2011, closed 13 January 2012
Round 2 - Opens 19 March 2012, closes 27 April 2012

Early Childhood Intervention Rural Practicum Placement Scheme

The Early Childhood Intervention Rural Practicum Placement Scheme aims to support students to undertake a practicum placement in a rural early childhood intervention service. 

Successful recipients will receive a financial incentive of $1000 to assist with the costs associated with travel and living away from home to undertake a practicum placement in a rural early childhood intervention service. The early childhood intervention service will receive an incentive of $500 to assist with any expenses incurred.

For more information, see:

Applications for 2011/12 will be accepted in the following rounds:

  • Round 1 - Opens 11 July 2011, closes 26 August 2011
  • Round 2 - Opens 31 October 2011, closes 16 December 2011
  • Round 3 - Opens 19 March 2012, closes 27 April 2012

Early Childhood Intervention Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme

The Early Childhood Intervention Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme aims to support current early childhood intervention professionals and preschool field officers undertaking relevant study. The financial support provided through the scholarship program aims to assist recipients to meet the costs associated with postgraduate study.

On graduation, recipients will be required to work for a minimum of two years in a service funded by the Department to deliver early childhood intervention or as a preschool field officer.

For more information, see:

Round 1 2011/12 - Open 31 October 2011, closed 13 January 2012
Round 2 - Opens 19 March 2012, closes 27 April 2012

More information

For more information contact the Early Childhood Strategy Division
Phone: 1300 651 662
Email: ecis.workforce@edumail.vic.gov.au