Childcare centres turn families away due to severe staff shortages

A new report has revealed two-thirds of childcare centres across Australia are capping enrollments amid severe workforce shortages.

Childcare centres across Australia are turning away families due to severe staff shortages, a new report has revealed.

The report, conducted by the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA), found that two-thirds of childcare centres are capping enrolments due to the lack of staff. This is causing long wait lists and leaving many families without access to quality childcare.

“It’s a crisis that’s been building for years, but the pandemic has made it worse,” said ACA CEO Paul Mondo. “We need more investment in early childhood education and care so we can attract and retain qualified workers.”

Low wages are one of the main factors driving the staffing shortage, according to experts. The average wage for a childcare worker is $20 an hour – far below the national minimum wage of $25 an hour. As a result, many workers have left the industry in search of better-paying jobs elsewhere.

The situation has been exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions, which have caused some childcare centres to reduce their capacity or close altogether due to lack of staff.

The ACA is calling on governments at all levels to increase funding for early childhood education and care so that childcare centres can afford to pay higher wages and attract more qualified workers.

“We need urgent action from governments if we want to ensure that all children have access to quality early learning experiences,” said Mondo. “Without it, this crisis will only get worse.”

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