Finding her path: How a Goodstart scholarship opened doors to Chelsea's bright future

Chelsea Sawyer, educator at Goodstart Brinsmead, discovered her calling in early childhood education while completing her Certificate III in high school. 

The Goodstart QPP (Queensland Priority Pathways) scholarship has since given her the opportunity to study for a diploma, expanding her knowledge and confidently taking on new challenges in her role. 

Cheslea shares her experience in shaping a bright future for herself and the children she teaches.

When Chelsea finished high school, she wasn’t entirely sure which career path to follow. Like many young people, she sought work that was meaningful – something that would enable her to make a difference. 

It wasn’t until she completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education during her senior years that her direction became clear.

‘I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do when I finished school,’ she says. ‘But I did my Cert III in high school and really enjoyed it. Then I thought back to Grade Five – I had this amazing teacher, Mr Matthews, who encouraged me to be confident and do amazing things. I realised I wanted to be that person for children – someone who supports them and helps them grow.’

That realisation set Chelsea on a path into early learning. She soon began working with Goodstart Early Learning, where her passion for helping children thrive only deepened. Before long, she was at the level of a diploma-qualified educator – planning learning experiences, guiding children’s development, and helping manage her room. That’s when she knew it was time to take the next step and upskill.

‘I was already doing a lot of the work of a diploma-qualified educator,’ Chelsea explains. ‘I wanted to upskill, but I wasn’t sure how to make it happen financially. Then I received an email about the Goodstart QPP scholarship and thought, why not apply?’

Empowered to upskill through the Goodstart QPP scholarship

Chelsea describes the application process as ‘really easy.’ ‘You just apply, fill in your details, and the team gets back to you really quickly. Zoe helped me through it all – it was super straightforward.’

For Chelsea, the scholarship was more than just a way to gain a qualification – it was a chance to continue learning without the stress of financial pressure. ‘The scholarship provided an opportunity to upskill and further develop my career,’ she says. ‘In the first year, I chose work-paid study time, which really helped. Then this year, I switched to doing it outside of work hours and got paid for that time. It meant I didn’t have to rely on family to help cover costs. If I’d done a normal TAFE course, it would’ve cost thousands of dollars. The scholarship made it financially possible.’

That support allowed Chelsea to focus on what truly motivates her – the children. ‘I’m really motivated by the children,’ she says. ‘The scholarship helped me provide an even better learning experience for them during these important early stages.’

Confidence, connection and career growth

Chelsea: ‘I wanted to upskill, but I wasn’t sure how to make it happen financially. Then I received an email about the Goodstart QPP scholarship and thought, why not apply?’

The experience has also strengthened her confidence and capability in her role. ‘I’ve learned so much,’ Chelsea reflects. ‘It’s made me more confident in my knowledge and skills – now I can handle programming, planning, and running the room when someone’s away. I’ve developed a much deeper understanding of how to create the best learning environment for our children.’

Like many who return to study after a break, Chelsea initially found it challenging to get back into the rhythm of assignments and deadlines. ‘At first, I struggled a bit,’ she admits. ‘It had been a while since school, and I wasn’t used to studying. But TAFE brought in a teacher who helped me understand the assignments, and the online tutors were great too. They really supported me.’

Now, with her confidence and momentum growing, she’s found her stride. ‘Now that I’m back in the rhythm of studying, I’m finding it a lot easier,’ she says. ‘I’m flowing through my assignments and actually enjoying it.’

Chelsea describes working at Goodstart as being part of a close-knit community. ‘Working at Goodstart’s like a family,’ she smiles. ‘Everyone communicates well, supports each other, and makes you feel so welcome. The staff nurture the children – but they also nurture each other. It’s a really positive place to work.’

A future full of possibility in early childhood education

The application process was really easy. ‘You just apply, fill in your details, and the team gets back to you really quickly. Zoe helped me through it all – it was super straightforward.’

The QPP scholarship has given Chelsea more than just a qualification – it’s opened her eyes to what’s possible. ‘If it wasn’t for the scholarship, I probably would’ve put it off,’ she says. ‘It gave me the confidence and opportunity to do it now.’

When asked what she’d say to someone considering applying, her advice is simple: ‘Do it. It’s been such a great opportunity. I’ve learned so much and gained so much confidence. It’s helped me grow as an educator and as a person.’

Looking ahead, Chelsea’s ambitions continue to grow. ‘In the future, I see myself studying further – maybe even completing my bachelor’s degree to become a kindy or primary school teacher,’ she says. ‘I really enjoy working with older children and helping them get ready for the next step in their learning journey.’

Chelsea’s story is proof that with the right support, early childhood educators can achieve incredible things. Our QPP scholarship makes professional growth accessible, empowering educators to build rewarding careers while shaping the lives of children and families across Australia. Currently, the opportunity is available for passionate new Queensland-based staff – with some flexibility in northern New South Wales.

For those ready to take the next step, the opportunity is waiting.

We have QPP scholarships available to support eligible new QLD and northern NSW-based Goodstarters through their Certificate III, Diploma, and Bachelor early childhood qualifications. 

Apply for a role at Goodstart today to make a real, positive difference in the lives of children and see how we can support your career growth.