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Tonia Bartels had been considering studying for her degree for years - and she's finally done it.
A valued Teacher and Educational Leader at Goodstart Woree Toogood Road, she completed her Bachelor of early childhood with the help of Goodstart’s QPP (Queensland Priority Pathways) scholarship.
Now, she's strengthening her leadership and inspiring the next generation of educators. Tonia shares her journey of passionately supporting children while being supported in her personal and professional growth.
For Tonia of Goodstart Woree - Toogood Road, a career in early childhood education has always been about one thing – being there for the children.
‘Supporting them, watching them grow – that’s where my passion lies,’ she says simply.
Tonia first heard about the QPP scholarship from her Centre Director, Amanda, who encouraged her to take the leap into higher education.
At the time, Tonia was an Educational Leader, and although she had thought about further study for years, it wasn’t until Amanda suggested, ‘Let’s do our Bachelor together,’ that she finally decided to begin.
‘With her support and the QPP team behind me, I was able to start my Bachelor and actually finish it,’ Tonia says proudly.
Balancing full-time work, study, and family with the QPP scholarship
The Goodstart QPP (Queensland Priority Pathways) scholarship is one of our key initiatives, available to eligible new team members in QLD and northern NSW. It offers both financial assistance and practical support to gain further qualifications – from Certificate III through to Diploma and higher levels.
Designed to make study more accessible for those already working in early childhood education, the program covers course fees, offers flexible study time, and provides mentorship – helping remove common challenges such as cost, schedule pressures, and limited support.
Returning to study after years in the workforce was no small task for Tonia. Working full-time, she devoted every Sunday to study for four years straight. The scholarship, she says, made the journey possible.
‘It was amazing – the support, the mentoring, even the financial help during pracs. Not being paid while you’re on placement is hard, so having that incentive made a huge difference,’ she explains. ‘It took the stress away and gave me time to really focus.’
Graduating with her bachelor’s degree recently has been one of the proudest moments of Tonia's life.
‘To graduate with a Bachelor feels really good,’ she says with a smile. ‘It’s a huge achievement – one I never thought I’d reach at 50. Without the scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have done it.’
Originally from the border town of Goondiwindi, Tonia and her family moved to Cairns after years of holidaying there. ‘We’d come up every year to Cairns Coconut Resort,’ she recalls. ‘One day I said to my husband, "What if we moved here?" and he said, "If you can make it work, let’s do it." So I did.’
A strong sense of community and shared purpose at Goodstart Woree
Tonia moved from Goondiwindi to Cairns and hasn't looked back - the team at Woree are like her extended family
She joined Goodstart soon after, and despite early challenges during the COVID years, she quickly found her place. ‘We’re like a family here at Goodstart Woree,’ Tonia says. ‘We’re not just a team – we’re there for each other.’
That sense of family extends to her work with children, families, and fellow educators. ‘My personal values and those of Goodstart align – we’re here for the children,’ she says. ‘Every child’s voice is important, and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.’
The ripple effect of her study has already begun to show. ‘Through the scholarship and my degree, I’ve learned so much about how to support educators and children in different ways,’ she says. ‘Now I’m mentoring other educators and trainees, just like I was supported.’
Inspiring the next generation of educators
The sense of family extends to her work with children, families, and fellow educators. ‘My personal values and those of Goodstart align – we’re here for the children’
The experience has also inspired her family. Her daughter, Xara, has completed her own school-based traineeship in early learning. ‘Last year she had no idea what she wanted to do,’ Tonia laughs. ‘I told her to give it a go – and she loved it. Now she’s about to finish and I couldn’t be prouder.’
Her journey hasn’t been without its challenges – including the loss of her mum during her studies – but Tonia’s resilience shines through. ‘That part was really hard,’ she says softly. ‘But I know she was with me on graduation day.’
Today, Tonia stands as a passionate leader, mentor, and advocate for lifelong learning, and shows that with the right support, early childhood educators can reach their full potential. ‘This has been a completed journey,’ she says. ‘And now it’s about supporting others – children, families, and educators – to grow and achieve their own goals too.’
Through the QPP scholarship, Goodstart is making professional development achievable - helping educators grow their careers while making a lasting impact on children and families. The program is currently open to enthusiastic new team members in Queensland – with some flexibility for northern New South Wales.
If you’re ready to advance your career in early learning, this opportunity is ready for you.