The first national census of Australia’s preschools, kindergartens and childcare services reveals an increase in the number of workers with relevant qualifications and finds that overall job satisfaction is high across the sector.

 

The National Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Workforce Census 2010 was carried out by the Australian Government with state and territory governments.

 

Minister for Early Childhood Peter Garrett said Census provides new and important information for governments, the early childhood sector, services and the community of 140,000 staff employed in the early childhood education and care workforce.

 

“This is the first time we have comprehensive and nationally consistent information on the early childhood workforce which can be used to help develop government policy.”

Some of the findings of the census include:

  • More than two thirds of ECEC staff hold a qualification at Certificate III or above;
  • Almost 80 per cent of staff in Long Day Care have an ECEC qualification;
  • About 40 per cent of ECEC staff in long day care and preschool services already hold a Diploma level qualification or better; and
  • Teachers in preschool services are three times more likely to have four year degrees than three year degrees.

Mr Garrett said the Australian Government’s early childhood reform agenda included the introduction of a National Quality Framework to develop a national standard in early childhood education and care, and the census would play an important part in this reform.

 

“Our ongoing focus on improving the qualifications and skills of the workforce will help ensure that Australia’s children are cared for and educated by the best trained workforce possible,” he said.

 

The National ECEC Workforce Census report is available  here.