The ten most impactful ECEC news stories of 2024 – The year in review

As we approach the end of the year, it has become a tradition at The Sector to conduct a review of the biggest and most impactful early childhood education and care (ECEC) news of the preceding twelve months.

 

2024 will undoubtedly be remembered as “the year of the educator” with the implementation of a long awaited pay boost that was supported by positive outcomes from extensive negotiations between employee and employer groups, hosted by the Fair Work Commission and made possible by new industrial relations laws. 

 

That being said, another key theme for 2024 was policy related with at least five of the top ten stories connected in some form or other to new policy positions championed by Prime Minister Albanese’s Labor Government before the Federal Election of 2022 and legislated soon after. 

 

We hope you enjoy reviewing our ten most impactful news stories of 2024.

 

1. Government agrees to fund a 15 per cent wage increase for educators

 

After years of advocacy groups campaigning for better pay for educators it is probably no surprise that the Federal Government’s confirmation that it would stand behind a funded wage increase for eligible educators amounting to 15 per cent over two years is the biggest story of 2024. 

 

The announcement, made in August of this year, marked the beginning of a period of intense activity for advocacy groups and unions, as well as the Department of Education and approved providers, as they finalised the processes that would make the long awaited increases a reality. 

 

2. Fair Work Commission commences Gender Undervaluation Review 

 

As part of the 2024 Modern Award Review it was determined that a review is to be launched to determine if minimum wage levels in four awards, including the Children’s Services Award, had been the subject of gender undervaluation, and as a result been set too low over time. 

 

The Review was scheduled to occur over the second half of 2024, with an announcement of its findings expected to be released in early 2024. If it is found that wages have been undervalued, as they have been in the aged care sector, a further round of repricing of wages can be expected going forward. 

 

3. Usage of revised version of EYLF and MTOP becomes mandatory 

 

After an extensive review that commenced in 2021, the revised versions of Australia’s approved learning frameworks – the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0) and the Framework for School Aged Care (often termed My Time, Our Place (MTOP V2.0) were mandated to be used in ECEC services from 1 February 2024.

 

With feedback received from over 5,000 educators, service providers, families, children and young people, and other professionals from all jurisdictions and all types of ECEC the changes, amongst other things, aimed to strengthen the connection between the EYLF and MTOP and the National Quality Standard in key areas. 

 

4. First ever Early Years Strategy launched by Federal Government 

 

Consistent with its strong support for the early learning sector the Labor Government appointed an Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel and released an Early Years Strategy which for the first time articulated a ten year road map outlining an overarching vision for Australia’s children.

 

Central to the roadmap is an understanding of the need for better integration and coordination between the policies, funding and programs which serve children and families, removing ‘silos’, and taking a more collaborative approach, all of which are likely to inform Labor’s upcoming ECEC policy pledges ahead of next year’s Federal Election. 

 

5. Productivity Commission releases highly anticipated ECEC report

 

In September 2024, the Productivity Commission, released its final report into the Australian ECEC sector that contained 56 recommendations spread across ten key focus areas covering important matters such as affordability, workforce, children’s outcomes, inclusion and labour force participation.

 

Central to the PCs final position was that reforms were certainly needed to the existing ECEC system, including the abolition of the activity test and increasing child care subsidy (CCS) levels for some families, also noting that more comprehensive change risked imposing high costs without obvious additional community benefits.

 

6. South Australian provider Precious Cargo files to be wound up

 

In the highest profile closure of the year Precious Cargo, the South Australian based approved provider founded in 2006, saw liquidators appointed after a period of financial difficulties that culminated in creditors applying to the courts to force the business into administration. 

 

One month after the news broke, listed provider Mayfield Childcare emerged as a potential buyer of the Group with the deal completing on 31 August 2024.  

 

7. Educator workforce shortages continue to subside

 

In stark contrast to 2023, when staff waivers outstanding were regularly setting new highs, 2024 saw a reversal of those powerful trends that were also confirmed by extensive falls in the numbers of online ECEC related job ads being posted by approved providers. 

 

As of September 2024, the overall percentage of LDC services with waivers outstanding were back down to levels recorded in 2022 and ECT, centre manager and educator internet job postings had all fallen back materially signalling that the acute phase of workforce shortages across Australia had most likely passed. 

 

8. AI finally enters the mainstream of ECEC

 

After years of bubbling under the surface AI, and AI related topics, entered the mainstream of ECEC conversations triggered in part by a recently launched Government initiative to regulate the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. 

 

Recent commentary from well known ECEC stakeholders such as digital platform Storypark as well as informed legal commentators who focus on ECEC have started to outline what, how and where the power of AI can be captured to benefit children, educators and organisations working in the ECEC sector. 

 

9. Right to disconnect becomes mandatory clause in all Modern Awards

 

Another important Labor inspired legislative change saw new laws dictating when and how ECEC leaders can contact their employees outside of working hours, with the changes giving most employees the right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact (or attempted contact) from an employer outside of the working hours – unless such refusal is unreasonable.

 

In an ECEC context this may look like responding to parent concerns, adjusting rosters to accommodate for last minute changes to availability, or dealing with serious incidents which must be attended to within a certain timeframe and will certainly provide ECEC employees with a bit more protection to manage their wellbeing and work life balance more effectively. 

 

10. Julia Davison, Ex Goodstart CEO received Australia Day Honour

 

After having spent eleven years at the helm of Goodstart Early Learning, Australia’s largest and most high profile ECEC provider, Julia Davison stepped down from the CEO position in July 2012. 

 

Described by Paul Robertson, Goodstart’s Chairperson at the time as “an extraordinary leader” who “juggled the tension of running a billion-dollar national enterprise with business discipline with a constant drive to provide the very best possible learning outcomes for all children in the years before school” it is perhaps unsurprising that Ms Davisonshe was recognised in the Australia Day Honour list in early 2024. 

 

To read the 10 biggest stories of 2023 click here, 2022 click here and the 10 biggest stories of 2021 click here.