From flexible casual work to a permanent career in early childhood education
This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Shruti, an educator whose journey with Save Our Service is a wonderful example of how casual work can open the door to new experiences, professional growth and permanent career opportunities.
Shruti has been working in early childhood education for more than two years and is currently studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Throughout her time in the sector, she has developed a strong passion for supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing while continuing to build her knowledge and skills through her studies and practical experience.
Finding flexibility while building experience
Shruti joined Save Our Service as a casual educator and remained with the team for more than two years. For her, casual work provided the flexibility she needed while studying, while also giving her the opportunity to experience different early childhood settings and work alongside a variety of educators and teams.
Choosing casual work allowed Shruti to broaden her experience and develop the confidence to adapt to different environments. Every shift provided an opportunity to learn something new, meet new educators and gain a better understanding of the different ways early childhood services operate.
“I chose Save Our Service because it offered flexible work while I studied and gave me the opportunity to gain experience in different early childhood settings and learn from a variety of educators.”
This flexibility allowed Shruti to continue progressing towards her Bachelor’s degree while gaining hands-on experience in the industry, an important combination as she works towards her long-term career goal of becoming an Early Childhood Teacher.
When casual work became a permanent opportunity
One of the most rewarding parts of Shruti’s journey came through her casual shifts at Mini Masterminds.
Over time, Shruti became a familiar and valued member of the team. Through her regular shifts, she developed strong relationships with the children and families and became comfortable with the centre’s routines and daily practices.
As the team got to know Shruti and saw her commitment to the role, an exciting opportunity arose: the centre offered her a permanent position.
Shruti was very happy to accept.
What started as flexible casual work while studying ultimately became a pathway into permanent employment, demonstrating how casual shifts can sometimes lead to meaningful long-term opportunities when educators and centres find the right fit.
A smoother transition into permanent employment
Moving from casual employment into a permanent position can be a big step, but Shruti found that her previous experience at the centre made the transition much smoother.
Having already spent time working alongside the team, she was familiar with the centre’s routines, policies and practices. Most importantly, she already knew the children, educators and families.
Rather than starting completely fresh, Shruti was able to build on the relationships and knowledge she had developed through her casual shifts.
“My casual shifts allowed me to become familiar with the centre’s routines, policies, and team before starting permanently. This made the transition much smoother, and I felt confident because I already knew the children, educators and daily practices.”
That familiarity gave Shruti the confidence to step into her permanent role knowing the environment, the team and the children she would be working with.
Growing confidence through every shift
During her time with Save Our Service, Shruti developed more than just practical experience. Working across different environments and alongside different teams helped her become more adaptable, confident and professional.
Casual educators often need to adjust quickly to new environments, routines and team dynamics, and Shruti found that this experience helped strengthen her ability to do exactly that.
She learned how to quickly understand the expectations of a new setting, work collaboratively with different educators and build positive relationships with children and families.
These skills have continued to benefit her in her permanent role and have helped her feel confident as she takes the next steps in her early childhood career.
“Working with Save Our Service helped me become more adaptable, confident, and professional. I learned how to work with different teams, quickly adjust to new environments, and build positive relationships with children and families.”
Shruti’s advice to other educators
For educators who may be considering casual work, Shruti’s advice is simple: give it a try.
She believes casual work is a valuable way to build confidence, develop new skills and gain experience across different learning environments. It can also help educators discover the types of settings and teams they enjoy working with.
And, as her own journey demonstrates, casual work can also lead to permanent opportunities.
“I would encourage them to give it a try. Casual work is a great way to build confidence, develop new skills, and gain experience in different learning environments. It can also open doors to permanent opportunities, just as it did for me.”
Looking towards the future
Shruti’s journey is still only beginning. Alongside her work in early childhood education, she is continuing her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the goal of becoming an Early Childhood Teacher.
Her ambition is to continue growing as an educator and use her knowledge and experience to make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.
“I hope to become an Early Childhood Teacher and make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.”
Her commitment to ongoing learning reflects the passion she brings to her work and her desire to continue developing both personally and professionally.
A journey we’re proud to celebrate
Looking back on her time with Save Our Service, Shruti is grateful for the opportunities she has been given to gain experience, build her confidence and develop as an educator.
Her journey from casual educator to permanent team member highlights the opportunities that can come from stepping into a new environment, building strong relationships and embracing every opportunity to learn.
“I am grateful to Save Our Service for giving me the opportunity to gain valuable experience and build my confidence as an educator. My journey from casual educator to a permanent role has been rewarding, and I appreciate the support I received along the way.”
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Shruti’s journey and wish her all the best as she continues her studies, grows her career and works towards achieving her goal of becoming an Early Childhood Teacher.
Thank you, Shruti, for being part of the Save Our Service community!