Early Childhood Teachers and Qualified Staff

Abstract

New South Wales is experiencing a shortage of early childhood trained staff in children’s services for children under school age, for which the Government is seeking solutions. The shortage of trained staff has resulted in requests to the Minister for approvals for a less qualified person to be in the position of teacher to meet the licensing requirement for early childhood qualified teachers. Other longer-term implications may include a reduction in the quality of children’s services as a learning environment for children before school, child protection concerns and the legal implications if centres are unable to meet regulatory standards. Research has consistently identified the employment of qualified staff as an indicator of good quality child care. The research investigated the extent and reasons for the apparent shortage of early childhood qualified staff. Methods include a literature review, interviews with stakeholders, secondary data analysis and a survey of qualified staff in and out of the early childhood profession. The report makes recommendations to address the problem. Some of these solutions are outside the responsibility of the NSW Government but require the communication of the findings by the Office of Childcare to ensure their implementation.