The Suzan Johnston Training Organization was established in 1959 (56 years ago) and is one of Melbourne’s most trusted and respected child care training colleges and Registered Training Organizations (RTOs).
Suzan Johnston initially launched a Professional Nanny Course in late 1994, and it became Australia’s first accredited nanny training qualification. Reflecting back to that time, the nanny profession was hugely undermined. Back then, for the majority of nannies, being a nanny wasn’t a real career choice – it was just a temporary source of income, a short term job to fill a study gap, or perhaps just an opportunity to travel the world (with their accommodation paid). The actual essence of the job itself, providing care to a baby or young child, was often of secondary consideration. A scary thought indeed!
At that time, the general public’s perception of nannies was that they were glorified babysitters. Nannies required little to no experience and definitely no nanny qualifications. As a result of this perception, the standard of nanny’s salaries, employment conditions, and unfortunately sometimes the level of care and education given to the children were often poor.
Over the past two decades, Suzan Johnston management and the child care and nanny training professionals we employ have worked tirelessly to educate and empower our nanny course graduates, helping to improve the standards of care and education being delivered by nannies while enhancing and promoting the professionalism of the ‘nanny brand’.
The last few years have seen a significant overhaul of the children’s services sector.
In 2012, a Certificate 3 in Childcare qualification became the minimum requirement for all workers in the children’s services industry. To a large extent, this demand for qualified carers has flowed over to the nanny sector – where in recent years more and more parents and employment agencies now expect and demand their nannies to hold formal training in the form of a nationally recognised child care qualification.
For nannies to be recognised as legitimate and professional childcare alternatives, it is clear that proper, high-quality child care training and formal children’s services qualifications are vital. Looking to the future, it is inevitable that formal qualifications in the form of the Certificate 3 or Diploma in Early Childhood will become essential and non-negotiable pre-requisites for all nannies.
Gaining a child care qualification is not just about making sure nannies provide quality care and education – it’s also about the actual empowerment of the nanny, ensuring that nannies are respected and valued as professional educators.
Our Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care graduates are highly respected within the nanny sector. The Suzan Johnston child care course opens doors for our graduates for their entire nannying career.
Our childcare courses are only delivered face-to-face. Course delivery options are variable and include our full-time course (which takes just 18 weeks to complete) or our part-time option (where you will only be required to attend on alternate Saturdays) – a great option if you are currently employed full-time.
Our training centre is located in the heart of Bourke Street, Melbourne, and is easily accessible via public transport. Our child care courses are highly practical, interactive, and conducted by dedicated trainers who all have extensive industry skills and experience.
For more information on our Certificate III in Children’s Services, please visit our website: https://www.sj.vic.edu.au/course-cat/child-care-nanny/.
