GTE Letter Letter - REBOLLO, Wilvelyn [PDF]

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The Visa Officer Australian Embassy Manila, Philippines Statement of Purpose of Studying in Australia taking up Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care Dear Sir/Ma’am: I am Wilvelyn M. Rebollo, a resident of Brgy. Malayep Gerona, Tarlac Philippines. My mother is a grade school teacher in a government school in Tarlac, while my father used to manage our farm and livestock business when he was still alive. When my father passed away two years ago, my mother took charge of the business with the help of my uncle, who also manages his own hectares of farmland. I am the eldest in the children of four. My brothers are both seafarers. The older, 24 years of age, is a Marine Transportation graduate and currently employed at Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) Crew Management Inc., while the younger, 22 years of age, is a Marine Engineer graduate and presently affiliated at Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line. Our youngest sibling, right now, is on her last year in junior high school. In the year 2014, I graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital – Educational Institution. A month after college graduation, I took the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination and fortunately passed. Thereafter, I participated in various trainings, workshops and seminars that would prepare me in my nursing endeavor. While working, I continued further education at my Alma Mater and completed my post graduate study degree of Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2017. At present, I am employed at Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital as a staff nurse since March 2015. I was assigned to different wards including Medical-Surgical, Pediatric ward, and General Ward. Currently, I am a Post Anesthesia Care Unit nurse. Part of our BSN curriculum is the care of maternal and child health, wherein we are exposed to Obstetric and Pediatric wards in hospitals, government health units and communities, providing altruistic assistance to pregnant patients, their babies, and children 18 years old and below, whether sick or well. I greatly enjoyed the course of my caring experience with the young. The reason behind this must be because I am overwhelmed by their expression of genuine gratitude upon the concern and care they receive. The children’s innate capacity of making anyone smile for little reasons and acts of goodness is effortless. I personally have nephews and nieces on their preschool years; consequently, I consider that when I take it firsthand, the focus on the care of children is of great help in raising them, as well as my future children, lightheartedly and appropriately. In addition, I regularly volunteer as a Bible study teacher to the children attending Sunday mass in our local church, The United Methodist Church, in Tarlac, wherein I teach them inspirational bible stories and songs, as well as facilitate delighting games and recreational activities. In the Philippines, there is an increased number of children not going to school due to poverty and lack of resources. Since my mother is teacher, I sometimes accompany her to school, and there I indulge myself in the children’s delightful innocence and eagerness to learn. That



passion to serve the young motivated me to study further and take a specialized course to understand thoroughly children’s growth, development and other matters to assist them accordingly and excellently. This in return will also open up employment opportunities for me to able to earn more. The specialization can be gained through the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care which I wish to take at the Australian Training and Qualification (ATQ) College in Australia. Due to the big supply of nurses here in the Philippines, it is quite impossible to advance in this career. Despite having a Masters Degree, I still lack the specialization, skills and knowledge that will allow me to enter into better employment options. The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care will prepare me to enter into a rewarding industry where I can provide education and care to children during their most influential years. The course will teach and train me to Meet the social, emotional, physical and educational needs of infants and young children in various care settings, Provide care to children, with an emphasis on play-based learning, Learn about ethical practices, legal requirements, and care routines, Work effectively with families, Facilitate learning and play in order to enable children to achieve developmental outcomes, Observe and record children’s behavior, Work with culturally diverse clients, and Manage safety in the workplace. Specifically, the Units of Competency are designed as follows: Work legally and ethically, Develop cultural competence, Ensure the health and safety of children, Provide care for children, Promote and provide healthy food and drinks, Provide care for babies and toddlers, Develop positive and respectful relationships with children, Use and approved learning framework to guide practice, Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment for children, Foster the holistic development and wellbeing of the child in early childhood, Nurture creativity in children, Facilitate compliance in and education and care services, Establish and implement strategies for the inclusion of all children, Promote children’s agency, Analyse information to inform learning, Design and implement the curriculum to foster children’s learning and development, Embed sustainable practices in service operations, Work in partnership with families to provide appropriate education and care for children, Identify and respond to children and young people at risk, Provide and emergency first aid response in an education and care setting, Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety, Maintain work health and safety, Develop teams and individuals, Lead the work team, Provide workplace mentoring, Develop and implement policy and Work with diverse people. All these will be delivered in 8 terms over a 104 weeks Training Program. These skills will definitely enrich my current qualifications as a nurse, not only with a worldclass quality of practical skills and knowledge, but also with a career-broadening opportunity to extend my profession in the educational field. Taking an additional degree in Early Childhood/Pre-school Education domestically will not provide me with the same detail in educational delivery, and there are no courses locally that integrate both education and care for the young ones more tightly than this Diploma course I intend to take. Moreover, this specialization program will provide me with the essential skills and knowledge required to manage the operation of a child care center, which is one of my biggest dreams.



There are various reasons and factors that needed to be considered when deciding to study in another country, since there are countless duly respected universities and so many wonderful countries to experience living in. I believe that Australia is one of the best places to undertake the course. Main reason is the fact that Australia is one of the pioneers in the development of this course. Also, I have read from Internet sources (especially in www.studyinasutralia.gov.au) that Australia is the home of the finest educational institutions in the world, and thus, will be an outstanding help in enriching my scholastic qualifications and abilities. Other reasons are its excellent education system and warm welcome to International students that may assist me well in adjusting while learning. In addition, while studying in Australia, I can be able to witness its breathtaking landscapes and experience the beauty of its people and culture as told by my brothers, who have been there couple of times on their shipping journey. Indeed, no time is wasted in gaining the knowledge and abilities I pursue. I decided to take up the course at Australian Training and Qualification (ATQ) College in Bankstown, NSW (rather than at Sage Institute of Child Care or Future Academy) because of its high quality and outstanding education, excellently trained and experienced teachers, modern and world class early childhood education and care training facilities, as well as effective and efficient teaching for the students. I am looking forward to an advanced, nationally standardized, challenging and exciting learning experience at ATQ to open up my own “Worlds of Opportunity.” It is recommended by the Australian government that I have approximately AUD$20,290 per year to accommodate living expenses as a student visa holder (source: studyinaustralia.gov.au). However, the cost still depends on one’s lifestyle. ATQ, located in Bankstown, is about 20 kilometers West of Sydney. Since it’s a suburb, the cost of living is relatively cheaper than in Sydney CBD. A fast-food meal (McDonald’s etc) starts at $6-$12, off-campus accommodation rental, like a two bedroom apartment, costs around $165-$450 per week to rent while Shared Rental costs $85-215 AUD per week. The transportation by bus and train is about $15-$55 depending on where one lives from the campus and frequency in using public transport. Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) cost $35-$140, groceries and eating out is $80-$280 AUD; and entertainment may be budgeted at about $80-$150 per week. I am currently in the process of browsing accommodation choices near the campus through websites such as www.flatmates.com.au. In the said website, I have found a possible place to stay costing $200 per week (inclusive of utilities bills and internet), located at Dutton Street, Bankstown. It will only be a 22-minute walk away from the ATQ College campus, or if I choose to commute via public transportation (ie, the train) it will take 19 minutes. The place is only a 10 minute walk to the Yagoona Station and a 20 minute walk to Bankstown Station, while bus stops are very close by. It is also close to many local shops and restaurants. I understand that studying abroad is costly, however worth it, given the anticipated constructive benefits afterwards. Thus, I am pursuing this endeavor. In my almost 4 years of working as nurse, I saved enough money to compensate with the financial demands of the application process and school fees. My two seaman brothers, both actively employed, are also responding positively in providing me financial assistance. Furthermore, my aunt, my mother’s sibling,



Charlie T. Magaoay, an Overseas Filipino Worker in Israel, also expressed her support. They are enthusiastic about this undertaking, and communicates to me from time to time to check on the progress of my application. As overseas workers, my family knows the value of an Australian qualification and know the magnitude of difference it will make on my career. After completing my course, my immediate plan is to go back to the Philippines to be with my family, and explore employment opportunities in more urbanized cities such as in Taguig (Cambridge Child Development Center), Makati (Gymboree Play and Music) and Quezon City (The Child’s World – A Growing Center) wherein an Early Childhood Education and Care provider’s salary with international training is about Php50, 000 - Php60, 000 per month. Here I could receive great remuneration starting as an Early Childhood Educator or Early Years Play Therapist, and then be promoted to a Children’s Services Coordinator, Center Manager, Health Promotion Advocate, or a Families and Children Services Manager later on. My long-term plan, after attaining enough working experience, is to search for bigger opportunities, possibly in the United States wherein there is an increased demand for Early Childhood Education and Care providers with expected salary greater than 55,000 USD per year. Consequently, In God’s will, when I possess sufficient funds and mature in my experience as an early childhood education and care provider, I would want to fulfill my dream of establishing my own Child Care Center that would also cater to underserved children in my country. My advocacy is to provide world-class quality of education to the young, rich or poor. I am confident that I can achieve all my goals when I am equipped with the globally renowned academic qualification from Australia, whose education is delivered more affordably than any other leading country. I believe that studying in another country is a risk, for I may be outside of my comfort zones and I will be away from my family. However, I strongly consider studying in Australia is a blessing, for it may set me on track on advancing my skills and knowledge on a more difficult and challenging level, highlighting a brighter future for me and my family. Above all, I pray that you will extend your kindness and consideration in granting my student visa application to acquire an international qualification and pursue my aspirations through a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.



Sincerely Yours,



Wilvelyn M. Rebollo