SA childcare centres worst in the nation for gaining exemptions for underqualified staff

Kids are being put at risk as the shocking number of SA childcare centres operating below minimum staffing requirements is revealed. Search the full list.

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More than one in six childcare centres in South Australia are operating with underqualified staff, which an industry head says risks children’s safety.

An overwhelming majority of childcare workers are warning in a national survey that their centres are operating below minimum staffing requirements.

The figures have been revealed following horrific child abuse allegations in Victoria, which have prompted urgent responses from governments across the country.

According to data from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), 15.5 per cent of childcare centres are operating with staffing waivers, which allow them to use underqualified staff.

It is almost double the national average of about eight per cent and the highest rate of waivers of any state or territory in the country.

There are three levels of qualifications for educators in the sector including a Certificate III, a diploma and a degree required for early childhood teachers.

Waivers are issued by the Education Standards Board, the independent regulator in South Australia.

The figures include long day care, preschool and out of hours care settings.

Data from ACECQA revealed SA had the highest rate in the country for exemptions to employ underqualified staff. Picture: Getty Images

In national survey released on Wednesday, 77 per cent of childcare workers said their centre was operating below minimum staffing requirements at least weekly.

Of the more than 2000 workers represented in the United Workers Union (UWU) survey, 216 were from South Australia.

One SA anonymous worker said that when they brought up safety and staffing issues there was “hostility and bullying” from management.

UWU early childhood education and care director Carolyn Smith said the use of waivers had “a real impact on the safety and quality of education”.

“Partly because of understaffing, we see a real churn of staff moving through centres, and that’s when we don’t have that safe, quality environment we need,” Ms Smith said.

Almost three quarters of the respondents to the survey said understaffing led to an increase in children hurting themselves and 75 per cent said it left kids without support.

Of the workers surveyed, 69 per cent said education standards were compromised and 64 per cent believed children who required additional support were neglected.

However, Ms Smith said a recent 15 per cent federal government wage increase for childcare workers had “made an incredible difference”.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said “a significant amount of work” had been undertaken over the past three years to grow the early years workforce ahead of the introduction of three-year-old preschool gradually from next year.

The state government planned to spend about $97m over four years on workforce initiatives including early childhood courses at TAFE and introducing a specialist early childhood teaching degree.

Originally published as SA childcare centres worst in the nation for gaining exemptions for underqualified staff