Early childhood education and care is an essential public service – one that should be safe, high quality, universally accessible and publicly run. 

Every child deserves education and care that meets their needs and gives them the best start in life, in an environment where they are respected, understood and supported to thrive. But this is only possible when our educators and teachers have the time, training, resources and support to respond to the diverse needs of children and families and build meaningful relationships. 

What we need is a highly-skilled workforce of trusted early childhood educators and teachers who are properly valued, respected and paid for the work they deliver. 

The early childhood sector has become corrupted by massive corporate providers who put profit above the safety, rights and wellbeing of children and early childhood professionals. Chronic understaffing, cutting corners, undervaluing educators and teachers and skating as close to the regulatory minimum as possible has become the norm – everything that we know compromises the safety and wellbeing of children. 

For decades, early childhood professionals have told us what needs to be done, to not only keep children safe and prevent harm before it occurs, but to ensure they receive the quality education and care needed to thrive. 

We need nationally consistent minimum staffing ratios that ensure there are never less than two educators with children at all times, and to close the regulatory loopholes so often exploited. We must also make sure all early childhood professionals have fair pay and conditions, secure employment and access to ongoing high-quality training and professional development. 

Educators and teachers are the backbone of this sector, and we need to be respecting, bolstering and rewarding them as skilled professionals. 

Attracting and retaining a stable, well-supported workforce is the key to rebuilding a strong early childhood sector and restoring public trust in this essential service.