Big Steps Campaign: Strengthening Educator‑to‑Child Ratios Nationwide

The United Workers Union (UWU), through its Big Steps Campaign, is advancing claims in upcoming multi‑employer bargaining to improve educator‑to‑child ratios across Australia.

The campaign seeks national consistency, ensuring that the highest quality standards apply in every state and territory. Ratios are central to both Quality Area 4 (Staffing Arrangements) and Quality Area 5 (Relationships with Children) under the National Quality Framework, making this a pivotal policy issue.

Practical Implications

Improved ratios mean the following:

Enhanced safety: More eyes and hands to supervise infants and toddlers.
Stronger inclusion: Educators can better support children with additional needs.
Quality learning outcomes: Smaller groups allow for intentional teaching and responsive interactions.
Workforce sustainability: Lower ratios reduce burnout and turnover, supporting long‑term sector stability.

Campaign Recommendations

The Big Steps Campaign is calling for:

Better ratios for 0–2 years: Reflecting the intensive care required.
Improved ratios for 3–4 years: Supporting developmental milestones and group management.
Uniform national standards: Ending the patchwork of state‑based variations.

Educator Perspectives

Educators responding to the campaign have voiced strong opinions:

Infants: “Under 12 months needs to be 1:2” and “0–1 should be separated from 1–2” were repeated across comments.
Toddlers: Calls for 1:3 ratios, with frustration at mixed age groups being counted together.
Preschoolers: Overwhelming consensus that 1:10 is too high. “Work in a room with 20 kids and 2 educators… you’ll soon change your tune that 1:10 is sufficient,” one educator noted. Many push for 1:8, with some suggesting 1:5 or 1:6 to reflect behavioural challenges.
OOSH: “OSHC is 1:15. This is not acceptable.” Educators want lower ratios and caps on group sizes.
Broader concerns:
- Burnout: “Educators are getting more overwhelmed by task over task over chore over supervision… it’s never ending.”
- Funding: “Where does the money come from for the extra staff? Babies should be 8, not 12, toddlers 12, not 16, but ultimately that’s not good for business.”
- Inclusion: Calls for permanent staff trained in special education and ratios adjusted for children needing intensive support (1:1 or 1:2).
- Consistency: “Keep the ratio consistent with 1:8 for 3–5 years so centres don’t cut staff when children turn 4.”

Educators also stress the need to separate 0–1 year olds from 1–2 year olds, acknowledging their distinct developmental needs.

Ratios In Debate

Age Group	Current Legal Ratios	Big Steps Campaign Proposal	Educator Suggestions (Grassroots)
Infants (0–12 months)	1:4	1:3	1:2
Toddlers (12–24 months)	1:5	1:3	1:3
Preschoolers (3–4 years)	1:10–11	1:8	1:5–1:7
Older Preschoolers (4–5 years)	1:10–11	1:10	1:8
School Age (6+ years / OOSH)	1:15	Not specified	Lower ratios + group size caps

Who Made The Descision Of The Ratio Proposal

The ratio proposals in the Big Steps Campaign were developed by the United Workers Union (UWU) leadership team, informed by research on child development, international standards, and consultation with educators. They represent a balance between what is desirable for quality care and what is considered achievable within Australia’s early childhood sector.

Basis for the Proposal

Child Development Evidence: Ratios were designed to reflect the intensive needs of infants and the growing independence of preschoolers.
International Experience: UWU looked at standards in comparable countries to argue for improvements that Australia could realistically adopt.
Sector Realities: The union acknowledged workforce shortages and funding constraints, aiming for ratios that governments and providers could implement without collapsing the system.

Key Tension

Union’s Position: Ratios must be achievable to win government and provider support.
Educators’ Position: Current proposals don’t go far enough to address burnout, behavioural challenges, and inclusion needs.

The UWU leadership made the ratio proposal decisions, but grassroots educators are pushing for stricter standards. The final bargaining outcomes will depend on how well the union can balance evidence, feasibility, and the lived realities voiced by practitioners.

The campaign represents a critical opportunity to align sector practice with educator experience. By embedding improved ratios into national bargaining outcomes, the UWU aims to secure safer, more supportive environments for children and fairer working conditions for educators. The ongoing dialogue between union leadership and frontline educators will shape the final recommendations, ensuring they reflect both policy ambition and practical classroom realities.

Changing ratios is not just a campaign demand; it is a sector‑wide need that educators have been advocating for over the past year. However, the decision on what the ratios should actually be must come from the consensus of educators working across Australia. Feedback should be gathered from thousands of educators who work daily in early childhood settings, and the final ratios must support all educators. They should make a tangible difference for those currently struggling with high workloads, behavioural challenges, and burnout, ensuring reforms are both meaningful and sustainable.

Educators are invited to add their names to the campaign at: Ratios Claim