6 December 2024 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is delighted to welcome the Australian Government’s overhaul of the language it uses to describe the nation’s early learning and care professionals. 

Today’s release of the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) includes new titles for the early learning and care workforce, replacing outdated terms like ‘Child Care Worker’. The new terms applying to long day care services are: 

• Early Childhood Educator 

• Early Childhood Education Room Leader 

• Children’s Education and Care Service Director 

The classifications developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), including the titles of occupations, are replicated across government agencies and in reports, websites and national datasets. 

‘We are so pleased to see this change, after campaigning for so many years,’ said ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death. ‘As a society, the way we talk about early childhood educators reflects and reinforces the value we place on their work. Language matters when it comes to respecting our profession.’ 

In its submission to the ABS in 2022, ELACCA explained that ‘Child Care Worker’ was a title that ‘fails to reflect the pivotal role played by early childhood educators in supporting children’s early learning’, and ‘perpetuates stereotypes about “glorified babysitters”’. 

‘We thank the ABS for listening to the early learning and care sector throughout the consultation process,’ Ms Death said.  

‘We look forward to continuing our work to build a strong early learning and care sector in Australia, delivered by respected, well-remunerated early childhood educators and teachers.’ 

Ends 

For more information please contact:

Sally Maddison

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia

PO Box 348

Annandale NSW 2038

Mob: 0498 228 762

E: sally@elacca.org.au

www.elacca.org.au

About us:  

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,017 long day care services, 320 preschool/kindergarten services and 88 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 232,978 children and their families, and employ more than 59,000 staff.  

As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public.  

The post ELACCA celebrates long-awaited overhaul of language about early learning profession   appeared first on ELACCA.

12 July 2024 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is delighted to launch its ITE Boost Queensland program today, welcoming 54 early childhood educators to an accelerated teaching degree course, featuring specialised wrap-around supports and scholarships. 

The Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Boost Queensland program is funded by the Queensland Government, through its Qualifications Pathways Program (QPP). ELACCA is one of nine organisations selected by the Queensland Government to help build its early childhood workforce through the QPP.  

ELACCA is being funded to support 54 diploma-qualified educators in Queensland upskill to an early childhood teaching qualification. 

‘We warmly welcome these experienced educators to our program and we congratulate them on their success in being awarded a place,’ said ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death. ‘In partnership with our colleagues at the University of Wollongong, we will be working to support them over the next two years, while they combine work and study.’ 

Educators undertaking the ITE Boost Queensland program are embarking on an innovative teacher education program, co-designed by the University of Wollongong, ELACCA and the NSW Department of Education. The Bachelor of Education – The Early Years (Accelerated Pathway Program) is entering its second year. The 2024 intake commences today, kicking off a two-year program of study, practicum placements and professional mentoring.  

Under the ITE Boost Queensland program, educators will receive: 

• up to $12,500 for university tuition fees; 

• coaching and mentoring from ELACCA’s student support team; and 

• payments for customised supports (for example, to provide paid study leave). 

Of the 54 educators in the ITE Boost Queensland program, 7.4% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; 22.0% are culturally and linguistically diverse; and 7.4% are located in remote or outer regional areas of Queensland. 

‘ELACCA is so pleased to be working with the Queensland Government on this new venture,’ Ms Death said. ‘Our workforce is pivotal to the success of the early learning system. Collaboration between the early learning sector and government is a really effective way to design and deliver strong outcomes,’ Ms Death said. 

Ends  

For more information please contact:  

Amanda Walsh 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0499 306 794 

E: amanda@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

About us:  

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 17 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff.  

As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public.  

The post ELACCA welcomes 54 Queensland educators to new workforce upskilling program appeared first on ELACCA.

14 May 2024 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) has welcomed today’s Federal Budget, which includes a commitment to build and sustain the early learning and care workforce via a wage subsidy. 

‘We congratulate Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Minister Clare and Minister Aly on this vital investment in a qualified, highly-valued early learning and care workforce’ said ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death. 

‘We look forward to seeing the Government bring together the threads of important policy and industrial processes – including the Productivity Commission inquiry and Multi-Employer Bargaining – over the remainder of 2024.’ 

ELACCA has been advocating for Government co-investment in wages to ensure an accessible, affordable early learning and care sector across Australia. Every Australian child deserves high-quality early education and care, supported by a quality, qualified and appropriately valued workforce. 

‘We know that award wage rates have hampered efforts to attract and retain our workforce for many years. We also know that our workforce is highly feminised, and a lift in wages is a step towards gender equity’.  

‘A career in early learning and care should be a rich and rewarding one, and we want our early childhood educators and teachers to be appropriately remunerated for the important work they do, nurturing and responding to the learning and developmental needs of children,’ said Ms Death. ‘The early learning and care sector really is the backbone for the early years, and our educators and teachers are at the centre.’ 

Continuation of Inclusion Support Program (ISP) funding to 30 June 2025 is a welcome feature of the Budget, providing certainty for the early learning sector while the future shape of inclusion policy is being determined, in conjunction with National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms. 

The Budget also continues the rollout of the Paid Practicum Subsidy and Professional Development Subsidy for early childhood educators. 

‘Through our work supporting educators who are upskilling to a teaching degree at the University of Wollongong, we know just how important practicum placements are,’ said Ms Death. ‘Offering a wage replacement subsidy, on a national basis, would enable many hundreds of experienced diploma-qualified educators to engage in university study, delivering high-quality teachers for our sector.’ 

‘We look forward to working with the Government to implement these very welcome funding commitments, which are an important step forward in building a robust and stable early learning workforce, now and into the future,’ Ms Death said. 

Ends  

For more information please contact:  

Sally Maddison

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0499 306 794 

E: sally@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

About us:  

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff.  

The post ELACCA looks forward to transformational investment in the early learning workforce  appeared first on ELACCA.

9 April 2024 

 The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) has warmly welcomed its newest member, Ms Renee Bowman, Chief Executive Officer of Nido Early School. 

Ms Bowman was previously the UK CEO of Junior Adventures Group, which also operates children’s education and care services in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. She has worked in 10 countries, leading teams in public, private and charitable sectors across a wide range of industries. She has degrees in Applied Science and Nutrition and Dietetics, and a Master of Business Administration. 

Nido Early School has been a member of ELACCA since 2021. Ms Bowman was appointed in May 2023 and her admission to ELACCA follows a comprehensive handover from the Founder and Managing Director, Mathew Edwards. 

ELACCA extends its appreciation to Mr Edwards and we are confident Ms Bowman will collaborate with fellow members to achieve our purpose: 

To leverage our scale and reach to lead exceptional early learning outcomes for all our youngest Australians. 

Ends  

For more information please contact:  

Amanda Walsh 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0499 306 794 

E: amanda@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

About us:  

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff.  

The post ELACCA welcomes new member CEO from Nido Early School  appeared first on ELACCA.

8 March 2024 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) congratulates the Queensland Government on the launch of its Qualifications Pathways Program (QPP), which will provide hundreds of early childhood educators with scholarships and support to upskill to a Bachelor qualification. 

‘The Queensland Early Childhood Workforce Strategy will be critical to strengthening the early learning workforce, for the benefit of children and families across the state,’ said Elizabeth Death, CEO of ELACCA. ‘We congratulate Premier Miles and Minister Farmer on this investment in the future of Queensland.’ 

‘We are very pleased to be one of nine organisations selected to deliver the QPP in Queensland,’ Ms Death said. ‘Our experience and expertise in supporting educators to upskill and to extend their professional learning makes this program a great fit for ELACCA.’ 

‘We look forward to welcoming educators from our member organisations into the program, which will commence in the coming months.’ 

ELACCA currently delivers the ITE Boost program, which supports educators to balance work and study, helping them to attain an initial teacher education (ITE) qualification and pursue their dreams of working as an early childhood teacher. 

‘High-quality early learning depends on qualified, experienced educators and teachers. With strong support from government, employers and organisations like ELACCA, we can build and sustain a thriving early learning workforce,’ Ms Death said. 

Ends  

For more information please contact:  

Sally Maddison 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0498 228 762 

E: sally@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

About us:  

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff.  

The post Queensland scholarship program to build the early childhood teacher workforce  appeared first on ELACCA.

19 February 2024 

NSW scholarship program will help build a thriving educator workforce 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) congratulates the NSW Government on the success of its Early Childhood Education and Care Scholarships program, which will catalyse growth and quality uplift in the early learning sector. 

‘We are delighted to see such a strong response to the scholarships program,’ said Elizabeth Death, CEO of ELACCA. ‘More than 2,300 scholarship applications were received, which is such an encouraging indicator of future growth and quality uplift in the early learning sector.’ 

‘We congratulate all the current and aspiring early childhood educators who have been awarded scholarships to attain a qualification or upskill their qualifications.’ 

‘In particular, we applaud the diploma-qualified educators who will be commencing, or continuing, a Bachelor degree at the University of Wollongong in 2024 with support from ELACCA,’ Ms Death said. 

The ELACCA ITE Boost program supports educators to balance work and study, helping them to attain an initial teacher education (ITE) qualification and pursue their dreams of working as an early childhood teacher. 

‘High-quality early learning depends on qualified, experienced educators and teachers. With strong support from government, employers and organisations like ELACCA, we can build and sustain a thriving early learning workforce.’ 

For more information please contact:  

Sally Maddison 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0498 228 762 

E: sally@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

About us: 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff. 

As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public. 

The post NSW scholarship program will help build a thriving educator workforce  appeared first on ELACCA.

5 January 2024

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) has warmly welcomed its newest members, Mr Phil McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of Busy Bees Australia, and Ms Jo Moloney, Chief Executive Officer of Sparkways.

“We are delighted to welcome both Phil and Jo to ELACCA,” said Elizabeth Death, CEO of ELACCA. “They join us at an exciting time for the early learning sector in Australia, ahead of a year of significant policy work and investment at federal, state and territory levels.”

“ELACCA is very fortunate to draw on a large, diverse talent pool among its 18 member CEOs. We look forward to the contributions that Phil and Jo will make to our strategic discussions.”

Both Mr McKenzie and Ms Moloney bring valuable experience to their new leadership roles and to ELACCA’s membership.

Mr McKenzie joined Busy Bees after five years as the CEO of Pacific Smiles, a multi-site dental services group. His expertise includes acquisitions, cultural alignment and the expansion of existing services. Mr McKenzie holds qualifications in Management, Marketing, Business and Commerce and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Moloney joined Sparkways as the Executive Director Corporate Services in early 2023,  after serving as the CEO of Melbourne Legacy. Her expertise includes business improvement, integration, change management and transformation initiatives. Ms Moloney has a Bachelor of Business in Accounting. She is also a member of CPA Australia and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

ELACCA also extends its appreciation to the former representatives of Busy Bees Australia (Cheryl Creaser) and Sparkways (Daniel Findley) for their contributions to ELACCA.

Ends 

For more information please contact: 

Amanda Walsh

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia 

PO Box 348 

Annandale NSW 2038 

Mob: 0499 306 794

E: amanda@elacca.org.au 

www.elacca.org.au 

About us: 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,011 long day care services, 370 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,000 staff. 

As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public. 

The post ELACCA welcomes new member CEOs from Busy Bees Australia and Sparkways appeared first on ELACCA.

21 December 2023 

ELACCA welcomes ACECQA Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework 

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the release of the Report into the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). The report, released earlier today, follows a comprehensive review of child safety arrangements by ACECQA, commission by the Australian Government. 

The report includes 16 recommendations designed to further assure children’s physical and online safety, child supervision and staffing requirements. 

“There is nothing more important than a child’s safety and wellbeing, and ELACCA is committed to an early childhood education and care system that provides a safe, high-quality learning environment for all Australian children” said Elizabeth Death, CEO of ELACCA.  

ELACCA supports the high-level finding that the National Quality Framework (NQF) is a robust framework that holds up against international standards, that strives for continuous improvement of quality and safe early learning and care.  

ELACCA welcomes the review, and looks forward to engaging directly in consultation with Senior Officials across states and territories to support and inform the implementation of recommendations.  

“This is an important opportunity to further enhance our existing regulatory system, the National Quality Framework, and for all jurisdictions to align and uplift safety through the implementation of nationally consistent legislation, policy and practice”. Ms Death said. 

The Report into the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework can be accessed at https://www.acecqa.gov.au/child-safety-review. 

Ends.  

For more information please contact:  

Sally Maddison 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0498 228 762  

E: sally@elacca.org.au  

www.elacca.org.au  

The post ELACCA welcomes ACECQA Review of Child Safety Arrangements appeared first on ELACCA.

Media release

15 September 2022

As governments across Australia ramp up investment in early learning and care, employers in the sector are launching a social media blitz to attract more Australians to become early childhood educators and early childhood teachers.

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) today launches a new phase of the Big Roles in Little Lives campaign, promoting the importance of early childhood educators and teachers in supporting children’s learning and families’ lives.

‘Early learning and care is pivotal to creating a strong Australia,’ said ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death.

In June, the New South Wales and Victorian governments announced investment of $14.8 billion in early learning over the next decade, to create a new year of free or low-fee education for all children in the year before school. The two premiers described this as ‘the greatest transformation of early education in a generation’.

‘Early childhood educators and teachers help build the next generation of young Australians, supporting their creativity, social skills and resilience,’ Ms Death said. ‘This is the first step on a child’s educational journey, and it is so important for success and wellbeing later in life.’

The Big Roles in Little Lives campaign is targeting school-leavers and career-changers, highlighting the flexibility, satisfaction and social impact that come with roles in the early learning and care sector.

‘We’ve already seen positive signs that Australians see a solid future in the early learning sector,’ said Ms Death.

‘The number of Australians enrolling in vocational courses in Early Childhood Education and Care jumped by 14% in 2021, surpassing pre-COVID levels.’

Demand for early childhood educators and teachers is at an all-time high in Australia. In July 2022, there were 7,063 job vacancies advertised online for early childhood educators, teachers and centre managers.

‘Early childhood educators and teachers are highly valued by their employers and by the families who attend their services. We need to see further increases in wages, but the future trajectory for early learning and care careers is very promising,’ Ms Death said.

The Big Roles in Little Lives campaign will run across TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

bigrolesinlittlelives.com

The post Record investment in early learning builds new career opportunities for Australians appeared first on ELACCA.

Media release

2 September 2022

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) applauds the broad, strong advocacy for increased investment in early learning at the Jobs and Skills Summit, and urges the Australian Government to lead a swift sector-building process in response.

‘We were greatly heartened by the coalition of voices at the Summit that spoke up for greater investment in early learning,’ said ELACCA’s Acting CEO Amanda Walsh. ‘Elevating the role and reach of early learning and care is now a mainstream economic policy proposal in Australia.’

‘What happens next is hugely important,’ Dr Walsh said. ‘The Summit outcomes document doesn’t provide the concrete steps we’d hoped for – but it does announce a pathway that could deliver what we need.’

‘It’s clear that the National Cabinet process will now be critical to building our early learning and care system. It is also the key to unlocking women’s workforce participation, which depends on access to early learning and care.

‘The first priority for National Cabinet must be the workforce crisis in early learning and care. Without qualified, skilled early childhood educators and teachers, we have no hope of delivering early education to more children, for more hours each week.

‘We know it’s not all about wages, but we can’t build and sustain a workforce on current wage rates. We need the Australian Government to support higher wages for early childhood educators through Fair Work Commission processes, and to commit to funding wage increases, as it’s doing for the aged care sector.

‘This is a seminal moment for Australia. We are very fortunate to have governments – in Canberra and around the country – that believe in the fundamental importance of early learning and care for children, families and the economy.

‘Our challenge is to mobilise that belief, so that we deliver policies and funding that support and expand the early learning and care system, for the nation’s benefit.’

The post Strong voices for early learning and care need a strong response from governments appeared first on ELACCA.