Vic educators invited to have their say as Early Childhood Workforce Strategy evolves

Those interested in sharing their perspectives about the future of Victoria’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce have been invited to have their say and to share their thoughts about how the sector can best work together to support and grow a workforce that can meet the increased demands of three-year-old kinder. 

In 2022, three-year-old children across Victoria will be able to attend at least five hours of funded kindergarten a week. 

While the change represents a significant milestone on the road to a 15-hour per week, state-wide program for Victorian children by 2029, there will be increased demand for teachers and educators to support its delivery. 

The Victorian Government has a broad-reaching strategy to support the attraction, retention, and quality of the early childhood workforce which includes investment in a $174.2 million workforce package to attract and retain staff and support high-quality kindergarten programs.

In support of this goal a new policy paper, Working Together to Build Victoria’s Early Childhood Education Workforce, invites all sector stakeholders to be part of the next stage of Victoria’s early childhood workforce strategy.

“We want to work with the early childhood sector to strengthen our collective efforts and affirm our priorities for supporting the workforce into the future. We want to hear about roles and responsibilities, innovation across the sector and ideas for new partnerships that will support and grow the workforce,” a spokesperson said. 

Contributions are invited from early childhood teachers and educators, kindergarten services and providers, employer peak bodies, unions, vocational education and higher education providers and all levels of government.

To access the policy paper, please see here. Feedback can be provided here until 30 June 2021.

Any further enquiries should be directed to [email protected]