Ticket to world
CHILDCARE is an often overlooked yet ideal profession for combining work and travel.
From helping in overseas orphanages to supervising children on cruise ships, there are many opportunities to work outside of Australia.
Charlton Brown chief executive and general manager Daniel Musson says nannying is one way to see the world while earning.
“We train and place about 240 nannies each year and many of our graduates take these qualifications overseas on working holidays,” he says.
“This is a popular option in Europe and the UK, with some graduates taking a six-month placement on a cruise ship in the Pacific to gain more experience.”
Musson says Australia has an international reputation as a leader in early childhood education and as a result his company has been approached by a Chinese childcare provider asking for Charlton Brown students to complete practical placements in China.
Another way to travel in the childcare industry is to attend study tours and international conferences.
Goodstart Early Learning has developed a study tour program where high-performing employees travel the globe to share professional experiences and are inspired by international best practices.
This year, participants travelled to Dublin, the UK, Los Angeles and the Northern Territory.
Early childhood teacher Glen McKenna was on the Dublin tour, where he participated in the European Early Childhood Education and Research Association annual conference and toured early childhood centres.
“As an experience both personally and professionally, it was transformative in every measure,” McKenna says.
“The insights I gained from being able to meet and hear directly from international experts was fantastic.”
McKenna, who has a Bachelor of Secondary Education and a Masters in Early Childhood, is currently studying a Doctorate of Education (EdD) and working as a kindergarten teacher at Goodstart Murarrie.