Over 60 per cent of early childhood educators plan to leave the sector within three years, while 97 per cent of early learning centres have already lost educators in the past year.
The findings of a snap poll involving more than 1,100 educators and nearly 200 parents across Australia highlights a deepening crisis in the early childhood education sector, with alarming levels of staff turnover, mounting pressure on educators, and significant impacts on families.
The poll, conducted by the United Workers Union, compares the experiences of early educators and parents 12 months on from the Union, peak bodies and stakeholder groups declaring a workforce crisis.
Key findings include:
- Staff Turnover Crisis: A staggering 97% of centres have experienced educators leaving in the past 12 months.
- Increased Pressure: An overwhelming 98% of educators report feeling under pressure due to staff shortages, compared to 87% of centres in 2023. A total of 84% of parents agree that their child’s educator is under considerable pressure. In 2024, 70% of rooms have been reported as under-ratio, with 25% of these rooms under-ratio frequently.
- Retention Concerns: The sector faces an escalating retention challenge, with 62% of educators indicating they do not plan to stay in the sector for the next three years. However 90% of educators would be more likely to remain if their pay was increased by 25%, underscoring a critical view of educators: the need for a pay increase that recognises educators and addresses the rising cost of living.
- Impact on Families: The repercussions of staff shortages on families are increasingly severe. In 2024, 72% of parents reported that their child’s educator has left in the past year. Additionally, 32% of parents have had their child moved to a different room due to staffing issues, and 22% have been asked to pick up their child early.
- Quality of Care: A significant 76% of parents believe that staff shortages and turnover are negatively impacting the quality of education and care at their child’s centre. This is on par with 2023 when 75% of centres reported concerns for children’s educational outcomes.
Quotes attributable to Carolyn Smith, Early Education Director, United Workers Union:
“Twelve months ago, we warned of a crisis in early learning: thousands of educators had left, rooms were shut, and families were being hit hard.
“The new evidence today is unequivocal: 12 months on the crisis is even worse. Immediate action is required to tackle the growing workforce crisis.
“The good news is a 25 per cent pay increase could convince 90 per cent of educators to stay. For too long, educators have faced the difficult choice between the job they love and finding employment that pays their bills.
“A wage increase is critical to addressing the crisis now for workers, families, and children.”
Quotes attributable to Georgie Dent, CEO, The Parenthood:
“Despite their vital work early childhood educators have been chronically underpaid and under-recognised, and we’re sadly seeing its impacts.
“Early childhood educators are passionate about the work they do, and they recognise the important role they play in children’s lives – but their dedication has not been reciprocated. Dedication doesn’t pay the bills.
“This must change – we cannot solely rely on educators’ dedication to keep them in the sector, it is both unfair and, as these results show, no longer effective.
“Early childhood educators remain some of the lowest-paid workers in Australia. Their remuneration needs to reflect their skilled, demanding, valuable work.”
Quotes attributable to Jessica Bailey, Early Childhood Educator, SA:
“We care, we clean, we teach, we inspire, and we give everything we have for these young lives. Often, we come home and have nothing left for our own loved ones.
“Working in such a high-stress environment while being underpaid isn’t sustainable, leading to high turnover and burnout. These children deserve better. We deserve better.”
Comments from educators on how a 25% pay increase would impact their day-to-day life:
- “I would be able to live like a human (being).”
- “I could afford to live off one job.”
- “After 18 years working in the sector, I would finally feel appreciated and recognised for the hard work I do every day.”
- “I would feel more valuable. I would feel as though my time and effort is appreciated. I would feel as though my profession is recognised as an actual profession.”
The poll was conducted over a 10-day period from July 19 to July 29, 2024 and included responses from 1,110 early childhood educators and 189 parents with children in early education. The comparison figures are from a report completed in August 2023 by 1,000 early learning centres across Australia.