With staff shortages, a growing concern in the early childhood industry, the Carmicheal Centre from the Australia Institute have developed a detailed report with 10 recommendations to overcome the current shortages the industry face. Some recommendations include: Prioritising ECE as an essential public service, providing universal ECEC to all Australian preschool-aged children, conversion of casual, contract-based, and temporary staff to permanent and direct employment, Lifting minimum qualification standards for new ECEC workforce entrants, and TAFE should be the primary provider of foundational education and training for ECEC careers.

Early Education Service providers are suffering from the ample shortage of childcare staff. It has been said that there are more than 6000 job vacancies across the country as of March.

Diploma-qualified educators play a vital role in early childhood services, taking on responsibilities that range from supporting children’s learning and development to leading rooms and coordinating programs. Their wages under the Children’s Services Award reflect both their qualifications and the scope of their duties, with clear progression as they move into leadership and management roles.

Certificate III qualified educators form the backbone of early childhood services, providing essential care and learning support for children across all settings. Their wages under the Children’s Services Award recognise both their qualifications and their growing experience, with clear progression from newly qualified educators to those with several years of service.

When working as a qualified early childhood teacher (with a university degree) within a service, your rate of pay will come from the Educational Services Teachers Award, 2020. This award is specifically for early childhood teachers employed as the ECT in their centre. 

The Children’s Services Award introduces a streamlined classification system and updated pay rates designed to better recognise the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities of early childhood educators. This is part of the Fair Work Commission’s gender-based undervaluation review, designed to properly recognise the professional expertise of early childhood educators and ensure fairer, more transparent career pathways across the sector.