Widespread understaffing and constant breaches of educator-to-child ratios are impacting children’s safety and wellbeing, according to a survey of more than 2000 early childhood educators.

The United Workers Union Early Childhood Education and Care Quality and Safety Census asked workers to report on what’s really happening in the industry, with the vast majority of educators stating that understaffing is putting children at risk.

United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith said educators devoted their careers to ensuring children have the best start in life, but the survey – which pre-dated the serious incident revealed in Melbourne last week – exposed systemic issues that made it impossible to deliver the required quality of care:

  • 77% cent of educators say they are operating below minimum staffing requirements at least weekly, and 42 per cent say it is happening daily.
  • 75% of educators say regulators should not allow centres to avoid their legal minimum staffing requirements by issuing waivers.
  • 83% of educators strongly agree a common staffing loophole* used by centres compromises the safety and wellbeing of children.

* Centres use a loophole that allows them to move educators between rooms, and even count educators not on the floor, towards meeting their staffing level requirements – the so-called “under-the-roof ratio”. This leaves educators below minimum staffing requirements in individual rooms where staffing is set by regulators at ratios according to age (for example in Victoria one educator to four children under the age of 36 months and one educator to 11 children before preschool age).

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

“The hard truth is that more than three quarters of educators say they are regularly staffed below minimum requirements in their rooms.

“We need to support educators to do their best work, and our survey results show that the system is failing them and, in turn, the children in their care.

“While examining the tragic events revealed in Melbourne last week, we also need to understand the alarm that is being sounded by educators.

“Educators tell us that what was supposed to be a common sense stop gap for changes that occur at centres through the day has become an over-used staffing loophole entrenching educators regularly working below minimum staffing requirements in their rooms.

“Many have told us that even if room ratios are met, a lack of dedicated inclusion support educators for children who need additional support means there are more safety incidents at their service.

“Widespread understaffing and a lack of support staff impacts the level of care children receive.

“Workers report children are left without emotional support, without adequate supervision to stop them hurting themselves or others, and without appropriate education.

“Partly because of understaffing, we see a real churn of staff moving through centres, and that’s when we don’t have that safe, quality environment we need.

“This survey reveals it is essential to have long-term staff who are experienced, who are trained, and who are confident to raise issues.

“A better early education system requires a national approach in both regulation and funding, and we must listen to educators about what the problems really are.

“We already know the alternative is unacceptable, and the cost of failing our children is immeasurable.”

Responses from educators

In the survey, early childhood workers highlighted issues including low wages fuelling staff turn-over, a staffing loophole and waivers impacting adequate staffing, and a lack of professional development and training opportunities.

“There is no education happening and the level of care is not what I would consider to be acceptable, when educators can only just scrape through to survive the day with minimal staffing.” – Educator, Queensland

“I can’t even guarantee the safety of the children and myself. I feel sad, unsafe and stressful every day.” – Educator, Victoria

“We always work with the correct ratio, but the increase of children with higher needs is making current ratios completely inappropriate.” – Educator, New South Wales

Themes revealed in the survey:

When asked to identify the issues that had occurred due to falling below minimum staffing levels (top four):

  • 75% said understaffing meant children were left without emotional support.
  • 72% said understaffing led to an increase in children hurting themselves or others.
  • 69% said education standards were compromised.
  • 64% said children who need additional support were neglected.

When asked about issues surrounding inclusion of children who need additional support:

  • 78% said they had children who needed additional support in their rooms.
  • 79% said there was not enough inclusion support educators to meet the needs of children who need additional support.
  • 77% said the lack of support led to more safety incidents.

When asked about broader issues confronting the sector:

  • 53% of workers said for-profit providers either placed a low priority on quality education, safety and care of children, or did not consider it at all.

When asked to list negative workplace issues they had faced in recent years (top three):

  • 77% said they had come to or stayed at work while sick because of understaffing.
  • 74% said they had stayed back at work to compensate for staff shortages.
  • 69% said they had felt pressured to avoid taking leave because of staff shortages.

About the survey: The survey launched on June 10 asked 37 questions about educator experiences, and has had more than 2100 people respond to date.

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