A new campaign targeting 2021 graduates is urging them to consider one of the most ‘future-proof’ careers in Australia: early childhood and care (ECAC).
On September 24, the Big Roles in Little Lives campaign went live across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. The message encourages the high school class of 2021 to think about the benefits of a career in early childhood, from the competitive pay to the fulfilment of nurturing the next generation.
One of their most compelling points is the strength of the childcare industry, which is expected to boom over the next five years.
After a slump during the impact of Covid-19 during 2020, when lockdown kept families home and the nation’s economy stuttered, the future for the early childcare sector has now never looked stronger.
Early childhood was recognised as an essential industry when Covid-19 changed our way of living, and has become central to economic recovery in the coming years.
The Labour Information Portal says Education and Training is expected to be the fourth-highest driver of new jobs in the labour market over the next five years.
Presented by the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA), the campaign is aimed at filling the growing number of jobs needed now and in the future as childcare demand increases.
According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook statistics, there were 47,900 Early Childhood professionals in 2020, after enormous growth in the years prior.
The number of jobs in the childcare sector is expected to reach 56,000 by 2025, with even more employment opportunities for additional support staff, professional development, and construction of new centres.
As an industry, early childhood has all the incentives jobseekers could ask for: pay that’s highly competitive with national standards, opportunity for growth and promotion, and offers part-time, full time and casual working options.
Demand for daycare will continue to rise as the Australian Government maintains its push to support more women in re-entering the workforce, providing better childcare rebates for subsequent children in care. The Child Care Subsidy reform will take effect July 22, 2022, and will give families the opportunity to increase their household income and close the gender pay gap while providing quality education and play for their children.
The $1.7billion Federal Government injection into the childcare industry in 2021-22 is part of a larger $10.3billion movement to make childcare more accessible and affordable for families across the board.
Elizabeth Death, CEO of ELACCA, said the campaign in support of a career in Early Childhood is important because of the significant impact of Covid-19 on young Australians.
“Youth unemployment rates [are] more than double that of the general population,” said Ms Death in a press release about Big Roles in Little Lives.
“But there is a great opportunity for young people in the booming sector of early learning and care. The Australian Government has forecast that demand for early learning and care will create an extra 23,900 jobs for early childhood professionals by 2025. This includes educators at every level, from Certificate III graduates up to degree-qualified early childhood teachers.
“Now is the perfect time for young people to enrol at a university or vocational education provider to study early childhood education in 2022,” says Ms Death.
As an industry that will always in demand by families, a career in early childhood education provides ongoing security for its staff. It’s brick-and-mortar state means it’s less vulnerable to economic changes, technology and off-shore trade.
“We want people to know that early childhood teachers have never been more important for Australian children and families, and for the economy more broadly. These are roles with purpose, satisfaction and great career prospects,” Ms Death says.
Innovative, low-cost facial recognition solves childcare safety problems
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The cost of safety
One thing that surprises many childcare operators is the cost of The Guardian entry system.
Coppin says to keep expenses down for childcare centres and their families, they don’t charge any upfront cost at all for The Guardian.
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