Early education reforms must solve widespread unsafe staffing issues, with early childhood educators demanding an end to a misused staffing loophole and more inclusion support for children who need additional support.

The demands are part of the United Workers Union’s Safer Staffing Action Plan, a blueprint for a safer sector based on the views of thousands of educators.

The plan has been put to the Minister for Early Education, Senator Jess Walsh, and State-based education ministers ahead of a meeting of Education Ministers on Friday this week.

Developed in response to the current safety crisis following tragic incidents in Victoria and other states, the plan is built from input about challenges that face educators, children and families.

The Safer Staffing Action Plan calls for staffing to be put at the centre of reforms for a safer sector including an end to the so-called under-the-roof ratio.

The staffing loophole allows educator-to-child ratios to be counted across a whole centre (“under the roof”), even if ratios are not being met in individual rooms.

In a union survey of more than 2000 educators released in July, 77 per cent of educators said they were operating below minimum staffing levels in their rooms at least weekly, and 42 per cent said it was occurring daily – indicating widespread misuse of the loophole.

In the same survey, 83% of educators strongly agreed the loophole compromises the safety and wellbeing of children.

The plan also includes calls for:

  • Every child requiring additional support, whether diagnosed or not, to be fully supported through additional staffing and other required resources.
  • Staffing waivers at centres allowing understaffing to be only used as a last resort and strictly time limited.

In the union’s recent survey of more than 2000 educators:

  • 75% said understaffing meant children were left without emotional support,
  • 72% said understaffing led to an increase in children hurting themselves or others.
  • 79% said there was not enough inclusion support educators to meet the needs of children who need additional support.

View the full Safer Staffing Action Plan online HERE.

Quotes attributable to United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith:

“We have seen a range of quick fix responses to safety issues across centres that fail to address the underlying issue of understaffing.

“If we are to achieve the wellbeing and safety that children deserve, no amount of CCTV can replace the oversight of skilled, trained educators who are able to give children the necessary time and attention.

“It’s important that reforms address loopholes like the under-the-roof ratio, that is being used by unscrupulous providers to short-change educators, children and families.

“There is also consistent feedback from educators that a failure to provide necessary levels of support for children who need additional support means that educators are stretched and children are missing out.”

Quotes from early childhood educators:

“… when it comes down to making a decision that puts profits against quality care, profits always win. Management are also ignorant to the struggles within the room, especially in the increasing number of megacentres that keep popping up.”

  • New South Wales educator

“We are constantly running on survival mode…We want to do our best for these kids and we are overworked. It’s disheartening to not be able to meet the needs of the children when you need to because you have multiple things to do at once… Children are not able to get consistent attention and focus to support them.”

  • Northern Territory educator

“Under-the-roof ratio has to be cancelled. It creates the biggest problem… under-the-roof ratio is wrong and only benefits to the companies who want to make more money.”

  • Northern Territory educator

“Staff are constantly walking in and out of our sector and we always have no staff so it becomes a mad rush to work out the day, and no amount of planning or caring can account for not having enough staff members.”

  • Queensland educator

“There is such a high burnout educators are moving out of the industry.”

  • South Australian educator

“Ratios need to be lowered to benefit the children and minimise educators stress.”

  • South Australian educator

“There was never enough suitably experienced staff on the floor at ANY time.”

  • Victorian educator

“Under-roof-ratios are the biggest obstacle for providing quality care and education for children below five years of age.”

  • Victorian educator

“[I want to] advocate for educators to be recognised for the dedication and inspiration they provide our next generation in their most formative years. We deserve more so we can give the children the absolute best foundation for their future.”

  • West Australian educator