Student Success Story: Katie Finds Work After 1 Week of Placement

Nay Chi Khine (Katie) is an international student from Myanmar studying a CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at RGIT Australia’s Melbourne Campus.

With a background in supply chain management, having lived and worked in Singapore, Katie discovered her passion and love for kids, and decided on a career change in Australia.

“I love kids, that’s why I decided to follow my passion and enrol in the Diploma of ECEC at RGIT, and I am really enjoying it.”

Talking about her experiences living and studying in Melbourne, Katie says, “the trainers at RGIT are very good as most of them have a background in Childcare hence it is very easy for me to understand the course work.”

She is also putting into practice, the theories learnt in class and in RGIT’S Childcare Simulation Background at her workplace. RGIT Australia’s Work-Based Training gives international students like Katie, the chance to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and simulated environments in an appropriate, local industry setting.

It wasn’t long before Katie found her dream job in childcare as a Childcare Educator at Inspire Early Learning Journey after only one week of placement. She talks about this with such pride in her voice. Katie loves the Childcare job and sees herself working long term in that path. Though just as any other job there has been a few challenges.

“It was a bit challenging at the start because I had never dealt with kids before. I had a lot of doubt, what if the kids start crying, how do I talk to them? But slowly, I have built a relationship with the kids by being patient with them.”

She is currently enjoying her work. As an International student, Katie says her main challenge has been trying to balance between work and college, with the occasional homesick once in a while.

Other than that she is loving studying over this summer period and during her free time she enjoys visiting the beautiful beaches in Melbourne, some kayaking and enjoying barbeques with friends. Katie says she most definitely wants to stay in Australia.

RGIT Australia’s Work-Based Training is designed to give international students like Katie, the chance to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and simulated environments, in an appropriate, local industry setting.