Growing pains deepen hurt for childcare worker shortage

[Pelican Press 0]

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Growing pains deepen hurt for childcare worker shortage

FINDINGS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S FUTURE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROFESSION REPORT

* There is a shortfall of 21,000 qualified early childhood education and care professionals and to meet future demand another 18,000 will be required

* To implement universal access and preschool, the workforce would need to grow by 3 per cent every year and the number of early childhood teachers by 5.4 per cent per year

* Early childhood educators are paid less per week compared to other roles that don’t require as high a level of qualification

* They also work more hours than those in other care sectors such as aged and disabled carers

* Those who work in early childhood education are more likely to get hurt on the job and in 2021, the rate of serious injury claims in childcare services was 14.2 per million hours worked compared to the 6.5 claims per million hours worked across all industries.

* 93.3 per cent of the early childhood education and care workforce is female, which means women’s primary school responsibilities can make staffing difficult

* Because of high turnover, the industry is increasingly reliant on trainees which means experienced workers spend more time supervising and hiring staff

* There is insufficient opportunity for ongoing professional development for those in the sector

RECOMMENDATIONS

* Governments should help fund long-term wage growth for workers and keep pay rates in awards and enterprise agreements as competitive as possible

* Governments should help those studying to enter the industry by continuing to fund paid placements and supporting interested international students

* Employers should allow staff opportunities for ongoing professional development

* Incentives such as transport in regional or high-cost areas should be provided

* The federal government should develop a national information resource to promote career and training pathways into the early childhood education and care sector

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