National children’s education and care workforce plan released

The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy Implementation and Evaluation Plan has been released today, setting out a path to building a sustainable, high-quality, professionally recognised workforce, while recognising current pressures on the sector.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today welcomed the release of the plan for the 10-year Shaping Our Future national strategy, which has been agreed to by all Education and Early Childhood Education Ministers.

The plan was developed by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) in partnership with sector peak bodies and all state and territory governments.

“We’ve been listening to early childhood education providers, peak bodies, unions and educators on the actions needed to address workforce shortages,” Minister Aly said.

“The strategy recognises that no one government, nor the sector itself, can fix the workforce shortage pressures alone – lasting solutions require a coordinated collaborative approach.

“The Implementation Plan outlines 21 practical actions to support the attraction, retention, quality and sustainability of the workforce in the long term.

“A supported and thriving early childhood education workforce is critical to being able to deliver the Albanese Government’s landmark reform of making early childhood education cheaper and more accessible for families right across Australia.”

The critical importance of the early childhood education and care sector was recognised at both the National Cabinet meeting on 31 August 2022 and at the Albanese Government’s recent Jobs and Skills Summit.

At National Cabinet, Education and Early Childhood Ministers were tasked to develop a long-term vision and collaborate on opportunities to support better outcomes across the system, with a particular focus on the early childhood education and care workforce.

Also being launched today is ACECQA’s Induction to the National Quality Framework, designed to improve access to professional development for early childhood educators and teachers.

Minister Aly said the release of the framework compliments the investment the Albanese Government is making in skills and higher education.

“The framework is an important step forward in addressing this long-standing and persistent issues impacting the early childhood education and care workforce,” Minister Aly said.

“We’re continuing to prioritise initiatives that support the attraction and retention of a high quality and sustainable early childhood workforce.”

Shaping our Future and the Implementation and Evaluation Plan are available on the ACECQA website: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy