Meet Harleen, one of our undergraduate early Childhood education students. Her journey began back in Year 12, when she discovered a love for developmental psychology during her psychology classes. That spark grew into a clear vision: combining her passion for teaching with her fascination for how children grow and learn.
‘I’ve always been fascinated by learning about theories of development, and I want to take that further into the research field. That’s what inspires me, the chance to contribute both practically, by working with children, and academically, by exploring research that can improve early education and development for the future,’ Harleen explains.
Academic support
Harleen is from an Indian educational background and thought study in Australia was a big shift and challenging at first. ‘The Academic Support team helped me to adjust, especially with assessments, referencing and understanding how to approach learning in a new way.’
‘I appreciated the project-based learning, where we work in groups and are encouraged to do our own thinking. This gave me the flexibility to form my own ideas and relate theories and theorists to develop my own worldview about early childhood education and child development.
Each unit has offered in-depth knowledge. When I look back at who I was before starting this course and compare it to now, I feel I have gained a strong foundation in the field. I’ve learned to observe children’s behaviours, understand how to work with diverse abilities, and apply constructive learning approaches in practice.
Excelsia has also supported me through peer mentoring sessions, which have been very helpful in managing assessments. I’ve found the tutorial tasks before lectures especially valuable; they encourage me to think critically ahead of time and come prepared, which makes the lectures more meaningful and deepens my learning.’
Why Studying Early Childhood at Excelsia stands out?
‘What makes studying early childhood at Excelsia special is the strong focus on practical experience through four placements. While the documentation can feel overwhelming at times, it has given me real confidence to implement and document effectively in practice. Another special part is the in-depth study of each category of children’s learning;, exploring how children learn and develop in different ways is truly fascinating. The coursework and readings are excellent and really challenge me to think deeper, which makes the learning experience even more valuable,’ Harleen explains.
Starting a career in early childhood
‘I feel confident to start a career in early childhood, in fact, I’ve already begun working in the field. Excelsia has played a huge role in building that confidence. Through placements and coursework, I’ve gained practical skills such as documentation, professional communication, and networking, as well as a strong foundation in child development and working with diverse abilities, which I find especially fascinating.
Over the past three years, I’ve grown so much, both personally and professionally. At my workplace, I feel a real sense of belonging, and people appreciate the passion and knowledge I bring. For me, it’s not just about building a career, it feels like making work my second home, where I can enjoy what I do while making a meaningful difference. Excelsia has truly nurtured that growth and confidence.’
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