Two years of job ads – no response

17/01/12

A country NSW preschool’s fruitless attempt to find a qualified employee makes it just one of thousands of childcare centres struggling to meet the Gillard Government’s new carer-to-child ratios.

Owner of the Willows Preschool and Early Learning Centre at Orange, Cathy Carroll, has been ‘unable to find anybody with (suitable) qualifications for two years. We have been to universities, we have put up fliers and advertised extensively, but we don’t get any response’.

Last month a national survey* of childcare centres found two thirds of operators couldn’t find the qualified staff they need to meet new industry rules, in force from this month.

Shadow Childcare Minister, Sussan Ley, says “being unable to find skilled employees is now a massive issue for most of the industry, yet centres face giant penalties or possible deregistration if they can’t meet the new ratios”.  

“We warned the Minister this would happen more than a year ago but she either doesn’t care or doesn’t get it. The people needed to fill the positions required are not available, not yet fully trained, or taking up better paid primary school jobs.”

“It’s another Labor mess achieving the exact opposite of what they wanted. Children will be sent into unchecked backyard care because their local centre is either forced to cut numbers or jack up their fees in the fight to find staff”, Ms Ley concluded.