’Burnt out’ childcare workers say centres are being forced to shut down and turn children away

Childcare operators have written to Premier Dominic Perrottet calling for an urgent “intervention” to fix red tape that is strangling the industry.

Childcare workers are leaving the industry in droves with red tape and strict rules forcing centres to shut up shop or care for fewer children, the sector’s peak body has claimed.

The Australian Childcare Alliance has written to Premier Dominic Perrottet calling for an urgent “intervention” citing an internal survey that showed 30 per cent of centres were likely or very likely to temporarily close for one more days.

Almost 60 per cent of surveyed centres said they were likely or very likely to reduce the number of spots on offer.

NSW has stricter staff to children ratio requirements for early childhood than its interstate counterparts — a policy that operators say is strangling the sector.

ACA chief executive Chiang Lim is calling on the government to make ratios more flexible and allow educators without degrees, and with Certificate III qualifactions, to work more easily.

Workers are calling for flexibility around qualifications for childcare workers to allow more people to work in the sector. Picture: Richard Dobson

“One of the thing we can do is take away the requirement that a minimum 50 per cent of staff must have a diploma qualification in childcare. It gives services more flexibility without compromising children’s safety,” he said.

“I’ve been getting feedback that the number of services that are being closed permanently, especially in the CBD because they just can’t find staff.”

The Australian Childcare Alliance has written an open letter to Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet on the issue. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Mr Lim said the strict ratio and qualification requirements, which he said require a centre with 80 preschoolers to have four degree-holding educators, will create a “lottery” system.

“Services will be reducing the number of places being offered which makes it a bit of a lottery … which children will be denied service for the day?”

Mr Lim credited the Coalition for its childcare reform but said the initiatives from the budget would take years to create “solutions needed now”.

Childcare operations manager Lydia Sedrak said workers were “burnt out” after working through the entire pandemic.

“Most of our staff that have left are finding work in other sectors, they are exhausted, they are burnt out,” she said.

Barangaroo childcare education Viviana Becerra said her centre had struggled to recruit workers, putting more pressure on existing staff.

Childcare worker Viviana Becerra says her colleagues are under more pressure than ever, Picture: Richard Dobson

“It has been very hard to find childcare workers in the last couple of months,” she said.

“We have to work different hours, change the roster around because of the shortages to be in ratios at all times.”

Early Childhood Minister Sarah Mitchell said she would not support any recommendations “that lower the standards”.

“I cannot support any recommendations that lower the standards of early childhood and care services in NSW,” she said

“We must grow the workforce without forsaking children’s safety, particular given these services educate and care for our youngest children.”