Extension given to combat remote childcare shortages

Educators who provide in-home care (IHC) to support families in remote Australia who are unable to access mainstream childcare will now have an additional two years to earn relevant qualifications, Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced yesterday. 

The change “recognises the challenges faced by IHC educators working in remote Australia and will help ensure educators are available to support remote families,” the Minister said. 

Such a move is designed to not only support families, but also to “ensure the childcare sector has a highly skilled workforce,” he said.

“Accessing early childhood educators in a home environment gives families a flexible option to balance their work and parenting responsibilities,” he added, saying it was “crucial” to have qualified educators available to provide care and early learning opportunities to remote Australian families.

The deadline for IHC educators to earn their qualifications has been extended to December 2021. In order to meet the transitional requirements, IHC educators must:

• access the expertise of an educator with at least a Certificate III in early childhood education and care, for at least 20 per cent of time care is provided; or,
• have been continuously employed at an early education and care service in a remote or very remote area for at least 15 years.

More information is available on the Government’s website, here.