COFFEES to children - that's what Wodonga worker Caroline Roberts has gone from in changing careers.
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The switch in vocation from barista at a Lavington cafe to early childhood educator followed her son, 8, and daughter, 6, entering primary school.
"It's so much better, there's so much satisfaction with my job," Miss Roberts said.
"Last year I worked with the kinder kids and watching them grow and go on to school was unreal.
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"Now it's been a flip and I'm in the toddler room and it blows your mind seeing the new things they do every day."
Miss Roberts, who also spent seven years working at Muffin Break in Wodonga Plaza, is based at the Kids On Campus Early Learning Centre on the grounds of Wodonga TAFE.
She worked through her traineeship at the centre while completing a Certificate III in early childhood education and care with TAFE.
"I have been able to use my experiences and skills as a mum and my life experiences to help me through the traineeship as an early childhood educator," Miss Roberts said.
"I would say to people that if you were thinking of changing careers, definitely do it."
Early childhood course enrolments jumped by 300 per cent at Wodonga TAFE between 2019 and 2020.
Miss Roberts' time at Kids On Campus has coincided with the centre undergoing a makeover which has seen its biggest expansion in 30 years of existence to help meet the growing demand.
The $1.7 million upgrade was done by Wodonga firm Premier Building and Construction and has resulted in the complex now having three student spaces and areas for professional development training and guest workshops.
Victorian Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney had been due to travel from her base in Geelong for an official opening, but COVID controls have negated that happening.
She called the revamped centre "a game-changer for Wodonga TAFE and the Border community" that would offer "great training and job opportunities and high-quality professional childcare services".