‘Insane’: Childcare centres in crisis across Australia

A new national survey has revealed the dire situation of childcare centres – and how it’s set to get even worse. See how South Australia is faring by region.

A third of childcare centres in some city suburbs are operating below the recommended number of staff, with a new survey revealing the dire situation is set to get even worse.

A national survey of more than 1000 educators found 97 per cent of centres had lost staff in the past 12 months and six in 10 child care workers planned to leave the sector.

Parents were also surveyed and revealed the impact it was having on their kids, with almost three quarters saying their child’s educator had left in the past year, a third had their child moved to a different room due to staffing issues and one in five had been asked to pick up their child early because of staffing shortages.

Official figures from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority show the labour crisis is not just in rural areas, but in most cities too.

Childcare centres that don’t have enough staff for the recommended adult to child ratios have to apply for a staffing waiver if they want to keep their doors open. On average one in six long day care centres in AustAsia is operating with a waiver.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The figures show in some parts of Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, a third of long daycare centres are not meeting the minimum ratio standards. In Brisbane it is one in five.

However, Melbourne is bucking the trend with fewer than three per cent operating with a waiver.

Centre manager Stacey Whitton-Starling, 40, said she did not have a staff waiver in place at her daycare just outside of Brisbane, but she was regularly putting in 50-hour weeks to cover gaps in the roster and meet ratio requirements.

All her staff were working extra hours too.

Childcare centre manager Stacey Whitton-Starling. Picture: Supplied

“Educators are working more than their contracted times which is leading to stress and burnout,” Ms Whitton-Starling said.

“Sometimes I am out of the home for 12 hours a day. I have children of my own. Our reward is low pay. Three quarters of my wage goes on my mortgage. It’s an insane way to live.”

The Albanese Government has promised to increase wages for childcare workers, but has not said when.

Campaigners are pushing for a 25 per cent pay rise.

United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith, behind the survey, found a 25 per cent pay rise 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,” Ms Smith said.

“This wage increase is critical to addressing the crisis now for workers, families, and children.”

United Workers Union Early Education director, Carolyn Smith. Picture: Supplied

Adelaide educator Jessica Bailey said they care, clean, teach and inspire the children they look after.

“Often, we come home and have nothing left for our own loved ones,” Ms Bailey said.

“Working in such a high-stress environment while being underpaid isn’t sustainable, leading to high turnover and burnout.”

The Government said since Labor won office, the early childhood education and care workforce has grown by more than 30,000 workers.

“The Government has committed to contributing funding towards a wage increase for early childhood education and care workers,” Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly said

“Work is underway to deliver on this important commitment.”

Originally published as ‘Insane’: Childcare centres in crisis across Australia