Media release
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Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) includes new titles for the early learning and care workforce, replacing outdated terms like ‘Child Care Worker’.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.’
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For more information please contact:
Sally Maddison
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia
PO Box 348
Annandale NSW 2038
Mob: 0498 228 762
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.