Workforce Council

Staff Exchange Program

PSCQ has developed the Staff Exchange Program to offer child care professionals across Queensland an amazing opportunity to step out of their world and experience exciting new learning opportunities in different environments.

Please peruse the documents linked on the right for comprehensive information on this program.

Participants' Stories

2009 and 2010 saw an increase in participants and host services as word spread about the benefits of being part of the Staff Exchange Program. Participants from across Queensland have taken up the opportunity to travel near and far to visit other services to engage in professional conversations, connect theory with practice, take time to reflect, and develop professional networks.

Participants returned to their services excited by what they had seen, brimming with new ideas, feeling refreshed and motivated and positive about the professional connections they had made.

Exchange participant Joy Moore talks about her experience:

(click here to view the full-sized video at YouTube)

Exchange host Stacey Walters talks about her experience:

(click here to view the full-sized video at YouTube)

Exchange participant Trish Taylor talks about her experience: 

(click here to view the full-sized video at YouTube)

"The best professional development I have been on."

(Lisa - Kookaburra Child Care Centre, Mackay)

"The exchange was very exciting and gave me great ideas and knowledge. Thank you."

(Jade - Longreach Child Care Centre)

"Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in this program. It was a wonderful experience to explore the difference between our structured routine/programming and the flexible/emergent approach taken by the host service. I came out of the experience with so many great ideas to incorporate into my own practices and environment. This experience has not only benefited myself but also other staff at my centre because I have been able to share my experience with them."

 (Sara - ABC Gladstone)

"The visit to another service gave team members valuable resource information. Between the 3 staff members who went on the visit we came back motivated with new ideas, new resource contacts, recipes and a new network."

 (Tracey - Mackay Child Care Centre)

"It renewed my enthusiasm for working in childcare I collected heaps of new ideas and brought heaps of great stuff back with me ... The staff at my host service were so helpful and friendly; it was great."

(Trish - Karumba Children's Service)

"Great to network with other centres and directors and I gained lots of ideas to incorporate into our program."

 (Carmen - Dysart Child Care Centre)

"Our participant had a great deal of experience using the emergent curriculum to program; this was very helpful for our staff. We learnt a lot from her."

 (Nola - St Paul's Lutheran Child Care Centre)

Please see the state-wide and regional In the LOOP magazines for more great stories about the Staff Exchange program.