Childcare Queensland is the largest association in the state, representing 750 private full-day care providers. It is warning that the industry will be forced to look overseas for skilled workers to meet demand and is calling for new policies for staff training.
President Gwynn Bridge said, 'We lose staff with degrees to Education Queensland (local education authority) due to the lighter workloads and responsibilities, and we feel that the Government should recognise on-the- job training along with academic study.' She said childcare should be listed as an Australian industry that needs workers from other countries.
Lisa Jenkins, a partner at Study Match, a subsidiary of a migration company that assists overseas staff to work and live in Australia, said, 'There is a huge demand for qualified childcare workers here in Australia. UK workers are highly sought after due to the similarities in culture and the high training and education standards in the UK.'
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here