Diploma - theory work first??

[law92]

Hi I'm just wanting to get people's opinions on this subject

I am about to start my diploma, and I am just wondering should I complete all the theory work first, then do my practical? if i leave the practical until last, im thinking i could power through the assignments, then get a job to finish off the practical? Or do the theory and practical components together? I have never worked as a group leader before, and been working in child care as an assistant for about 18 months. I know for some of the assignments for the diploma there will be questions about policies and procedures and such, just wondering whether I would need to do work placement at the same time as doing the theory in order to answer these questions?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[Lorina]

When I was studying my diploma, I completed the theory first then moved on to the practical. I decided to take 3 months off work to finish all assessments then when it was time for practicals, I found a job where I was able to complete it (which took no more than a week). Some questions throughout the diploma require you to gather information from the centre itself... Mainly recording obs, policies, procedures etc. Nowadays you can find plenty of information about policies, procedures, regs, EYLF online itself so you can most probably manage those questions. Since you have already been working in Childcare with obs etc, you can just make it up... It is possible if they allow you to do it!

,
L.A

[law92]

Hi that does sound like a good idea. However, I have found it really difficult finding employment in the child care industry, maybe from lack of experience and quals? Also I don't have any work references. So I have decided that I will do the practical hours at the same time as doing the assessments to try and build up a current work history, and hopefully gain employment with the prac centre at the end of my qual, or use them as a reference to get a group leaders job.

I've only worked as an unqualified assistant in the past for 16 months at a centre while completing my cert 3 which was great because I learnt a lot there, but hated getting stuck with all the crappy jobs, and it was a really tough centre to start out at as it was in a low socio economic area with a lot of foster care children and indigenous children, etc so there were a lot of behavioural problems and they had a high staff turn over as a result, which the director explained to me at the start of the interview. I left that job as they wouldn't let me take holidays, and I was getting too stressed out as I didn't know how to deal with the children behaviour, so I ended up leaving there on bad terms. Then, after a 5 month break from work I found a job working in after school care. I just wanted to see if I would like working with older children instead, as I was confined to working only with toddlers at the previous centre. I hated the ASC so I quit there earlier this month. They were making me work as a coordinator when I said that I didn't feel comfortable doing so, and there ended up being an incident where a child ran away from me in the school grounds and wouldnt listen to me at all that afternoon and I copped a lot of abuse for it, but I was working by myself and I didn't feel that the job was worth it in the end.
Now I've just enrolled in my diploma and plan to start my prac halfway through next month, so I can complete the first 1 or 2 clusters before commencing prac so I can get up to speed with things again. After all my bad experiences with working in child care so far it has really shattered my confidence, and it makes me always second guess myself. I just hope the next centre I go to is a good one where I can have a good experience at as I really want a career in child care as a group leader.

[Macoola]

Hi law92

I am so sorry you have had such a rough experience in childcare I hope things get better for you. I just wanted to add in because I am doing my diploma now and have been for a year now. I tried doing the theory first and prac later as I was living overseas but I found it very difficult. There was huge chunks of assignments I couldn't do without being in a centre. I eventually figured out what units didn't have prac components and did them but there wasn't many. I am now working in a centre and it is much easier. I would recommend doing your prac along with your theory.

Anyways that's just my experience hope everything works out for you.

Macoola

[fchaudari76]

I think you need to do both hand in hand as there may be certain units you may find easier to do once you have done or are doing a prac.
I would contact your study provider and see if they have a specific order of study or what they recommend for you

[law92]

thanks guys i think I will do the prac at the same time. However, I was looking on seek at child care jobs and one of my local centres are advertising for diploma apprenticeships, cert 3 traineeships and also jobs for other qualified persons. I'm thinking maybe I should go for the diploma apprenticeship? Do I tell the centre that I have already started the diploma through TAFE and will that matter if I have?
The centre is meant to have a great reputation and they specialise in the montessori method of learning - they're the only centre in town that does this, and they usually offer these apprenticeships every year i've noticed.

[fchaudari76]

which centre? I have worked in Montessori centres in Brisbane and if it is one of those can give you some inside info

[law92]

it is a montessori centre in Toowoomba, QLD, which is about 1.5hours outside brisbane.
heres the website: http://www.acountrygarden.com.au/

any inside info you can give me would be greatly appreciated

[iyaree]

you may find that some providers do not give you this option.
i have been ringing around providers in my state and have only found one.
many need you to do it hand in hand and i actually got told by one provider today that you have to do it this way as there is a new reg/policy/cant quite remember that came into effect this financial year.
all the best with your study

[Lorina]

thanks guys i think I will do the prac at the same time. However, I was looking on seek at child care jobs and one of my local centres are advertising for diploma apprenticeships, cert 3 traineeships and also jobs for other qualified persons. I'm thinking maybe I should go for the diploma apprenticeship? Do I tell the centre that I have already started the diploma through TAFE and will that matter if I have?
The centre is meant to have a great reputation and they specialise in the montessori method of learning - they're the only centre in town that does this, and they usually offer these apprenticeships every year i've noticed.

Since you have already started your diploma I don't think you qualify for the apprenticeship... How far have you completed it? If you have just started then it may be OK but if you're half way through then it might be a problem. anyways no harm in having a chat with the director about it. Montessori is a different teaching method. It's great just to broaden your horizons and see what it is like...

,
L.A