Lachie found his true career calling after a life altering diagnosis.
The Australian government is working to strengthen the VET system, to allow more students like Lachlan Carey to earn while they learn and develop their skills in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector.
School of hard knocks
When Lachie was 16 he received a life altering diagnosis. After losing control of his legs and sight in one eye during football training, a trip to the hospital revealed he’d had two strokes.
“Scans showed that I had a massive clot in a leg, a piece of the clot had broken off going through a hole in my heart and then shot to my brain,” said Lachie.
Lachie had heart and major vascular surgery and was also diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder.
Charting a new course
After his surgery and diagnosis, Lachie didn’t feel confident returning to Year 11. He left school to become an electrician but lost his job during COVID.
Luckily, Lachie’s parents own two childcare centres and understanding his situation, asked if he wanted to help while he looked for something longer term – and Lachie never left!
“I enjoyed working at the centres so much that I completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2023, as well as a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2024,” said Lachie.
Many of the children come from different cultural backgrounds and Lachie enjoys the diversity of the children and getting to know each child’s individual personality.
Putting theory into practice
Lachie loves helping the children develop their fine motor coordination skills through games, drawing and fun exercises, as well as songs, rhymes and storytelling.
“It’s fantastic seeing children having so much fun with activities like climbing trees and playing in the mud, while developing their gross motor coordination skills, just like I did as a kid,” he said.
The centres cater for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years old, and Lachie teaches the pre-school children between the ages of 3 and 5.
“A highlight of my job as an early childhood educator is seeing a marked step change in children’s progress,” said Lachie. “I love seeing the toddlers grow into young children, ready for school.”
Kicking Early Education goals
Building on Lachie’s VET qualifications, he has now been accepted at a university to study a Bachelor of Education – The Early Years. He’s happy that it can all be done online so he can continue teaching his preschoolers.
The Australian Government’s investment in the VET system through the National Skills Agreement is supporting more Australians to achieve success and provide the skills Australia needs now and for the future.