Staff waivers reach record levels as demand for educators still not being met by supply

Seventeen per cent of all long day care services (LDC) have at least one staff waiver in place as at June 2023, a new record level, according to the latest Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) NQF Snapshot.

The bounce back from the slight reduction recorded in the first quarter of 2023 highlights how seasonality trends kicked in during the June quarter with rising demand for LDC services not being matched by the supply of early childhood teachers and educators available. 

As a result nearly one in five LDCs applied for a staffing waiver which, if approved, allows them to operate (as long as they adhere to some specific criteria) without the mandated qualified staff members required by the National Regulations. 

The situation in preschool, outside school hours care (OSHC) and family day care (FDC) settings was far less extreme with just 2.40 per cent of preschools, 2.20 per cent of OSHC services and 0.20 per cent of FDC services currently holding waivers. 

Impact of shortages now spreading as five of eight states & territories see waivers up

For the first time in eighteen months Queensland is now not the most teacher and educator constrained jurisdiction in Australia with that mantle now falling to Western Australia which saw waivers outstanding increase to just under one in four LDC services.

Queensland recorded a small reduction, but the ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory and South Australia saw increases with all of them now at or around the previous high levels recorded at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Of particular note this period was the ACT and South Australia that saw rises of 3.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively, substantial increases which are unlikely in the short run to reverse course given the introduction of new child care subsidy measures in July 2023 which have put upward pressure on demand. 

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2023 it is clear that conditions on the ground from a workforce perspective will remain challenging to manage for approved providers but may provide opportunities for teachers and educators already in the sector looking to change roles or employers, and also for those looking to return to the sector after a period away. 

To read the latest quarterly snapshot click here.