How I obtained my childcare qualification:

I originally worked as a photographer and in cosmetics PR in Japan. I then moved to Australia and after having a baby, I worked online for Japan, but when I wanted to build my career in Australia as well, I decided to become an early childhood educator. 

The main reason was my experience at Southport Childcare Centre, which is also where I work now and where my sons attend. The centre is multi-national and offers Japanese events, classes and even hosts international students from Japan, which has allowed my sons to feel close to Japanese culture while living in Australia. I cannot thank the teachers enough for being there for the children and families at all times and taking care of my sons as if they were their own children.

When I thought about a new career in Australia after this experience, I couldn't think of a job other than Educator. I chose this job because I wanted to support children and families from different backgrounds, just as I was helped by many Educators.

Differences between early childhood education in Japan and Australia:

I have no experience of working as an early childhood educator in Japan, so what I felt when I sent my sons to preschool when I temporarily returned to Japan is that the good thing about Japan is that they learn rules and discipline. There are detailed rules for living and learning, and it was very difficult for both my sons and me as a parent to get used to these rules, but I felt that the children have grown in many ways. I believe that the children were able to experience the Japanese courtesy and manners, such as the greetings "Itadakimasu" and "Gochisousama desu", serving lunch on duty, and cleaning, as well as the wonderful feeling of cooperation with others. 

On the other hand, the good thing about Australia is that each individual's personality and background is respected, and educators are able to respond to these differences. Of course, they also learn politeness and cooperation, such as "Thank you", "Please" and "Sorry", as in Japan, but I was impressed by the way they tailor their teaching and education to the children's individual needs. There are also many events where children can experience not only English but also various cultures, and I think the fact that children can feel the "world" from an early age is a unique attraction of Australia.

What do you like about Australia?

In terms of living, I think the richness and closeness to nature is attractive. In the Gold Coast, there are many places where you can see koalas and kangaroos in the wild, and the ocean is just a tram or bus ride away, even without a car. I think it is an environment where it is easy to refresh yourself even in busy days.  In terms of work, I was also impressed by the "flatness" of human relations. Flatness does not mean that there are no hierarchical relationships or courtesies. At first, I was very surprised at the working environment where we could frankly say "Thank you" to each other's work, regardless of the length of our careers or our positions. Even for me, who is still inexperienced, people say, "Thank you for having Hitomi here! Thank you!" I wanted to grow and become more active as an educator.

How did you improve your English?:

I am embarrassed to say that I started with almost no English skills, as I was mainly working online in Japan after coming to Australia. When I was doing school assignments, during work placement and even now that I have started working as an educator, I encounter unfamiliar words on a daily basis. Every time I encounter a word I don't know, I look up the meaning or search for an image of the word so that I can match the meaning with the visual image. In addition, when I commute to work, I imagine various situations in the car and practise conversations as if I were talking to myself.

For those who want to become early childhood educators in Australia:

Regardless of whether you have experience in childcare in Japan or not, I think it takes courage to jump into a new environment, but if you are not sure, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. I am almost 40 years old myself and started from zero in the childcare industry. There were people at my school who had no experience in the childcare industry as well, and people of really different ages. In Japan, I think there are various requirements to become an early childhood educator, such as being able to play the piano. In Australia, you learn about early childhood education in small units, but there is no requirement that you have to be able to play the piano, etc. Sometimes the daily program is based on the Educator's individual experience. For example, an Educator who loves exercise might try yoga with the children, or singing non-English songs to the children.

I believe that in Australia, where educators can work in a relaxed environment not only with children but also with themselves, they will be exposed to new values through their experience as early childhood educators!

Future goals:

I plan to complete my Diploma as an educator. I also want to work hard to become an educator who can provide more support for children growing up in Australia as well as for children who come to Australia as international students from Japan.

How I obtained my childcare qualification:

I attended a university in Japan where I could study childcare. I obtained a Certificate III during my studies and went to Australia to study after graduating from university. I then attended a local qualifications school to obtain a Diploma and started working from the time of my placement. During my qualification studies, I attended school only one day a week, did practical work two days a week and worked part-time in my spare time.

Differences between early childhood education in Japan and Australia:

In Australia, children basically follow the schedule set by the centre, but are free to do anything else! The children themselves can choose whether or not to participate in activities, picking and choosing what they are interested in. Also, when creating something, there are no samples. I think this gives them more opportunities to develop their imagination and ability to make their own choices.

What do you like about Australia?

The fact that everyone around me expresses their deep love in words. They are honest and verbal about everything, good times and bad times, and they communicate it well. I also like the fact that everyone tries to help each other work stress-free.

How did you improve your English?:

I think it's just about having lots of exposure to English. To be honest, it was difficult to improve my English with only one day a week of practical training. However, I started working two days a week, and then every day after I obtained my qualification, and I started to imitate the English spoken by other educators and try to use it. By actively talking to the children in this way, I feel that my English has improved compared to a year ago, although I am still learning.

Reason for choosing Australia:

I chose Australia because of its safety and climate. In addition, Australia is a multicultural country and I felt that I, as a Japanese, could easily integrate into the local community.

For those who want to become early childhood educators in Australia:

Children are incredibly adorable, the teachers are kind, and you can work in a very enjoyable environment. Even if you lack confidence in English now, you can definitely grow step by step, so I hope you will give it a try! Since I'm still learning too, let's work hard together!

Future goals:

To improve my English and to be able to talk easily with parents. I also want to be able to feel that I have grown in one year's time. I want to work as an early childhood educator in Australia for a long time.