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2009 - Studying Div 2 (Cert IV) Full time with 2 young boys (4 and 6 months) - is this realistic or am I crazy.

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Author 2009 - Studying Div 2 (Cert IV) Full time with 2 young boys (4 and 6 months) - is this realistic or am I crazy.

BelindaS

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  • Joined: Jan 2009
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 19

Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:01 pm

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone else out there studied Cert IV full time with young kids (4yrs old and 6 months) and what the study load was like. I dont plan to work if studying full time so thats not an issue but am unsure how much homework is required. I have my boys enrolled for full time creche and classes are 9am-4pm 4 days so I have a day off for study, etc and can also manage a couple hours at night a couple of times a week (luckily my youngest is a great sleeper 7.30pm - 6.30am otherwise this probably wouldnt be possible).
I have enrollment tomorrow so hope to find more info then as I also have the option to study part time if needed, but would need to decide this very soon!
The other problem is if I did study part time I would still need creche 3 days to have that day "off" for study, etc but I would only get 2 days of Child care Benefit as you need to be studying more than 15 hours a week to get up to the 50 hrs reduction, otherwise you only get the 24 hours. Therefore, creche would be more expensive in the long run. My eldest is due to start school next year.
I really like the idea of completing it this year and then working part time and study towards div 1 following this but not sure if I am being realistic and would really appreciate hearing from anyone that has already been in this situation.

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Jan 28, 2009, 01:18 pm

Hi, I did this course fulltime and worked nights. Also had 3 young kids (5,2 and 1) Had my husband to help, don't know your situation. It's pretty heavy more later in the year but if your dedicated it is do able. Be prepared for some late nights. Good Luck. (PS I did my course 2004 but it shouldn't have changed much)

deancey

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  • Joined: Aug 2008
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Jan 28, 2009, 02:42 pm

Belinda S I have just enrolled in Div 2 part time as I have 2 young kids 3 and 8 months but need to keep working part time.

I am going to VU and they said that you can start full time and if necessary drop back to part time if you are finding the workload too much.

I think if you are organised and make the most of the time you have you should be able to do it. You may need to sacrafice the little time you get to yourself as a mum but its only a year.

Where abouts are you studying?

Best of luck with everything

BelindaS

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  • Joined: Jan 2009
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 19

Jan 29, 2009, 02:03 pm

Hi Gill and Deancey,

Thankyou for the replies. I went along to the enrolment for FT and spoke with the course co-ordinator and had a look at both timetables. I ended up accepting to study part time only. Apart from the study load (they said approx 2 hrs homework per day would be required for FT and possibly more around exam time), I dont want to be away from my boys everyday. Considering this part time course is only 18 months its only an extra 6 months and will make life easier next year when my eldest starts school. I officiall enrol on 11th Feb and start on the 16th RMIT Bundoora.

Belinda.

deancey

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Feb 01, 2009, 12:17 am

Belinda that sounds like a good decision. As you said an extra 6 months isnt going to make a huge difference.

Enrolement is not too far away

jules74

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Feb 28, 2009, 07:41 pm

Hi Belinda,

by now you'll have started your course! hope its going well so far in the introductory stage!

you said your doing part time at RMIT - can you tell me is part time 2 days per week? and was full time going to be 3 days per week?

My sister and i are considering applying to RMIT if there is a mid year intake, and although neither of us has kids we both agree that 2 days per week is probably the better option anyway. we both work full time and wouldnt want to have to drop back too much financially- 2 days a week we could probably deal with but any more than that starts to really make a difference.

if it is 2 days per week, it says on the website 12hrs p/wk part time- so are you doing 6 hour days then??

thanks heaps for the info- i'll be interested to hear from you as to what RMIT are like (i was at RMIT uni for a little while so interested to know what the TAFE division are like)

Cheers, Jules

Jaydee

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  • Joined: Dec 2008
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Mar 01, 2009, 12:32 am

Hi Jules,

I have started the course with BelindsS so I will tell you what I know.

We go 2 days per week, Mon and Tues, 9-4pm. The full time course is 4 days per week, so it's probably a bit much if you need to keep working for financial reasons. I believe RMIT do have a mid-year in take, just check their website for details. Depending on how long ago you finished secondary school, or what further study you have done, you may need to sit the Vetassess test as part of your application. Vetassess also have a website with all the info.

We have only just started 2 weeks ago. I'm enjoying it so far. Seems like we have a nice bunch of people in our group, aside from one little annoying distraction :o) Belinda, you know who I'm talking about, hehehe

Hope that helps, good luck if you decide to give it a shot.

BelindaS

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  • Joined: Jan 2009
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 19

Mar 01, 2009, 08:36 am

Hi Jules,

I am so happy with the decision to do part time. 2 weeks down and loving it so far (but yes the work load hasnt fully hit yet). As Jaydee said lovely group of people, ages range from 20 - 50+ most mature age (even the younger ones are great too) and quite a few work in the indusrty and work close to, if not full time hours as well as study. The couple of different teachers we have had so far have been easy to listen to, so not many complaints from me either (but there always has to be one in the group - he he).
The other thing I loved about doing it at RMIT is that they do it part time in roughly 18 months where as others take 2 years. Part of the difference is that we dont have many holidays and start earlier and finish later in year (early fed to dec 18th then feb to july next year). The hours are permanently 9am - 4pm less an hour for lunch so assume thats where they get the 12 hours from but we have also been getting morning and avo breaks (not sure if this is permanent thing but seems to be).
I also studied at RMIT uni years ago totally different course in city and this is very, very different. Same class room each time, smaller groups (approx 36), no lectures - more initimate than uni making it heaps easier to get back in to study after a break. Also, you HAVE to go to each class and if you cant make it have to call them - not like uni where you just catch up.
Jaydee covered the rest of info ...thanks :).
Good luck with your application, hope all goes well.
Bel.

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