Reminder – Workforce transitional arrangements extensions remain in place

Note: Please note this article has been updated to reflect the fact that the original source link underpinning the piece was mistakenly assumed to be current. It was not. The transition arrangements were initially extended in April 2023. Ministers have yet to decide whether a further extension is merited. 

 

This article recaps arrangements put in place. 

 

Education ministers agreed in April 2023 to extend workforce transitional arrangements for a 12 months to 31 December 2024 as they offered the early childhood education and care sector additional flexibility in their hiring and workforce management decisions. 

 

The extension provided more scope for Governments to consider any recommendations that may arise from the review of NQF Staffing and Qualifications Regulations currently being undertaken by ACECQA. 

 

The following workforce transitional provisions were due to expire on 31 December 2023 and will now continue to apply until 31 December 2024:

 

• Regulation 239A – Regarding attendance of early childhood teachers at centre based services in remote and very remote areas (NT, NSW, SA, TAS)
• Regulation 240 – Qualification requirements for educators working in centre based services in remote and very remote areas (SA, TAS)
• Regulation 242 – Qualification requirements for people to be ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’ (NT, ACT, NSW, SA, TAS) 
• Regulation 264 – General qualifications for educators in centre-based services (ACT)

 

Note: Western Australia will make corresponding regulations to extend the workforce transitional provisions for regulation 239A, 240 and 242 to continue to apply until 31 December 2024. 

 

Note: Regulation 242 does not apply in Queensland and Victoria or if you are working in a centre-based service educating and caring for 30 or more children preschool age or under in NSW.

 

All other workforce transitional provisions will continue to expire as planned (see Workforce transitional provisions summary table on ACECQA website). 

 

An extension of the ‘Equivalent to an ECT’ provision has also been approved which will take into account the workforce pressures on the sector across the country, particularly in rural and remote settings, until 31 December 2024. 

 

This further extension by the ACECQA Board ensures consistency with the decision of Education Ministers to provide flexibility for services in the management of workforce requirements.

 

To read the original article please click here.