What is it that makes two perfect strangers sit next to each other on the first day of a new course? There may have been an element of destiny behind Nida (right) and Vivian’s (left) choice to sit side by side as they commenced studies in the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at VICSEG New Futures’ Epping campus last Friday! 

At 9 am, the pair had never spoken. By 10:30am, each had found in the other a kindred spirit; each drawn to the Diploma by the life-learned wisdom of how quality early childhood education can transform the entire futures of children experiencing developmental challenges.   

"Early intervention is everything", says Nida, who earlier owned her own business as a newborn and maternity photographer.  

“I’ve seen kids before in my life and could see right away – ‘they need help’. If kids in need get that support early, it can help leaps and bounds. There’s no use waiting until they reach five or six years. They need the right help before they can walk and sing. They need the help right now, in the very early years,” Nida said.  

“This (career change) isn’t about money. It’s not even about career. It’s about something else. It’s just about helping them. Even right now, I’m working in childcare as an ISS (support for children with additional needs). It’s very fulfilling emotionally. It gives me meaning,” she said.  

Meanwhile, Vivian found her way into early childhood education after a 14-year long career managing events at one of Australia’s most well-known entertainment centres in Melbourne.  

“The reason why I’ve made such a big career change, and I chose to leave that industry, is because I feel like in my life, I want to do something more meaningful. I don’t wanna just make my money, and that’s all there is to it. That time has gone now. I want to contribute to my community,” Vivian said.  

“The Certificate III and (now) the Diploma gives me a very solid foundation in this career and how I, as a person, can contribute to my community. I have a really strong vision – especially supporting CALD special kids. This is the reason. Supporting special kids very early is so important. When they’re six, a big opportunity (will have) already been missed,” she said. 

Both Nida and Vivian commenced the Diploma having each completed the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with New Futures Training. Their existing connection with VICSEG has made advancing to the Diploma an easy transition, they say.  

“I studied the Certificate III with Bella (Furnari) in the same Epping campus”, said Vivian. 

“And today, I went into the same classroom and sat at the same desk! It brings up all the good memories. I’m very excited,” she said.  

“Compared to when I started the Certificate III, today is a different feeling. It’s more confident.  Because the first time I was starting study, I was literally starting from one career, and now I’m into a different field. So, it’s a massive change, and I haven’t been studying since I graduated from university. And there’s a little bit of the butterflies in my stomach. But this time, since I’m back to the same place, I feel more confident. It’s more like the feeling I’m back home.”  

Nida is also soaking up the same sense of home on her first day of the Diploma while thinking back to her first day of class in the Certificate III.  

“The first time, the first class I was here, I felt so nervous, like I didn’t know what to expect. And like I hadn’t studied for twenty years. It was a big change for me, and I was also in a new country, everything new. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, what I was getting into. It was more of an experiment!”, Nida said.  

“But now coming back to the Diploma, I’m like, ‘Yeah, this is what I want!’ I know I can do it, and I’m not nervous. I know I can go through it. And VICSEG is so good to me, I know they’re gonna help me,” she said.  

VICSEG New Futures early childhood trainer, Lara Nabbout, says the existing industry experience that most Diploma students bring to the table also adds depth and richness to the classroom environment.  

“In the Diploma classes, the majority of them are already working in the industry, even if it’s just casually. And that’s the beauty of it. Classroom discussions are really interesting. The students have already grown a lot,” said Lara, who had also trained Nida in the Certificate III.  

“The study becomes much better. And it’s much more practical too. Because students can use their employment to do their placement. If you’re already working in a centre and continue with your Diploma, it’s much easier for practical reasons,” she said.  

Listening to Vivian reflect on her newfound career illustrates the wisdom that Diploma students get exchange in the classroom. She says her life is now a joyful cycle where the professional and the personal constantly blend and merge and intersect.  

“When I first started in my first class, the second week later, I got the job straight away. So, for me, it’s very new as what I previous do. I was suddenly working with children, and I got two young kids as well. And at that time, I was a bit under the stress,” Vivian said. “But through that I get into the industry and that experience helped me with my study. Because everything making so much sense. And now it was helping me in raising my own kids. It changed my perspective. It changed the way that I talk to them”.  

“And also, whatever I do at home, I actually applied it into my workplace. Such as like singing, reading, and all of that I think I’m good at with, so that I can apply that. And all of that has turned into my pedagogy. And now my pedagogy, well it’s turned into myself!”, she said.  

It’s a joyful experience just to sit and watch these two exchange stories and quips like lifelong friends until, all of a sudden, they grow acutely self-aware of the happenstance of it all, as though this moment in time were pre-destined.   

“And to think, today we sat together! How wonderful,” Vivian said.  

“It’s amazing”, Nida said.  

“It’s amazing”, Vivian agrees.