From unemployment to nominee for NT Childhood Educator of the Year
Wadeye grandmother and VTEC participant Ellen Tcherna was nominated for NT Childhood Educator of the Year. She is an educator, mentor and role model at One Tree Community Services Wadeye Children and Family Centre.
Not long ago, Ellen Tcherna was unemployed with little job prospects. Now, thanks to Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTECs), she has an ongoing job and has been nominated for NT Childhood Educator of the Year.
Ellen is a widowed mother of seven children and grandmother to 10, and had been unemployed for some time before becoming a VTEC participant.
The Australian Government funds VTECs to support highly disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers to take up guaranteed jobs. Ellen started with Group Training Australia VTEC provider in 2014, enrolling in a Certificate III in Children’s Services while employed as a Childcare Educator at the One Tree Community Services Wadeye Children and Family Centre.
Ellen quickly became a mentor for younger staff and a role model for local mothers. Her knowledge of both the local Murrinh-Patha language and English has made her an important link between One Tree Community Services and the community. Local non-Aboriginal staff rely heavily on Ellen’s knowledge of the community and its families, and her advice on how to deal with any local issues.
Ellen also uses her position to nurture the young families of her community. She teaches the importance of healthy lifestyles for children and their families, and supports the young women of Wadeye to become more educated around parenting issues. Her success as a childcare educator led to her recent nomination for the NT Childhood Educator of the Year Award.
Ellen is now enrolled in a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care while continuing to work at the Centre as a Room Leader. The families of Wadeye can look forward to Ellen continuing to help them and their children to work towards a brighter future.
Find out more
Vocational, Training and Employment Centres (VTECs) support highly disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers, helping them build confidence and expertise to get and hold jobs with real futures.
These jobs will bring financial security and provide the skills and experience to build a stable and better future.
The Australian Government has committed to fund VTECs to deliver up to 5,000 jobs for disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers. The VTEC initiative is based on the GenerationOne employment model.
GTA-NT is one of 24 VTECs across the country, to find a VTEC near you, visit Generation One VTEC or the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
One Tree Community Services operates the Wadeye Children and Family Centre with funding from the Australian Government. The centre provides children with regular meals, links to health services and an opportunity to learn and play.