Recruiting challenges?

Firstly, it should be recognised that the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is not alone. Virtually all industry sectors are facing labour shortages as a result of the COVID pandemic.

Nonetheless, ACA NSW is acutely aware that ECEC services and their parents experience real life consequences of severe labour shortages in not being able to care for children if they do not have enough staff to comply with the educator:children and qualified teachers:children ratios.

And although the NSW Department of Education has provided some assurance of providing temporary waivers of these ratios, the reality is that is not enough.

And supply is needed in the immediate term, notwithstanding ACECQA's National Workforce Strategy for 2022-2031.

ACA NSW also confirms that it over 600 responses were received from across Australia to ACA's national survey on whether services have adequate staffing levels.

In the meantime, ACA NSW would like to remind ECEC services of its upcoming Quickies - Recruit Like A Pro training (on 28 April 2022, 20 June 2022 and 8 September 2022 and the subsequent training videos-on-demand). A specialist recruiter will share his "tricks of the trade" that can help ECEC services recruit more effectively.

Please also note that it is ACA NSW's intention to provide a new service that will be announced soon.

Should any further information/clarification be needed, members can contact ACA NSW on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 5 APRIL 2022