ECEC educators invited to share what has changed over a decade in University Study

Researchers from The University of Queensland and Deakin University are inviting educators to share their experiences of working in ECEC, including the support available for children with disability and additional needs.

Ten years after our earlier workforce study, we want to hear from early childhood education and care educators again.

Our team at The University of Queensland, in partnership with Deakin University, is surveying educators across roles, service types and locations to understand what has changed.

The survey is now open and takes approximately 20–30 minutes. Responses will help us compare educators’ experiences across the decade, with other Australian education sectors and internationally.

What educators told us previously

Our earlier Australian Research Council-funded research combined a national survey with observations and conversations in services across metropolitan, regional and remote communities.

The research found that supportive workplaces were important to educators’ intention to stay. Feeling valued and supported by directors and organisations mattered.

A published analysis of retention and professional wellbeing also recorded annual staff turnover of 37 per cent among the 98 staff tracked in participating centres. Departures reflected a mix of personal and workplace circumstances.

In a separate analysis of 794 educators’ accounts, paperwork and challenging behaviours emerged as major concerns.

Educators described administrative demands that took them away from interactions with children, alongside the difficulty of responding to challenging behaviours without sufficient support.

Understanding changes in support and working conditions

Across the decade, the sector has seen changes, including recognition through increased pay. There has also been a national campaign to improve ratios and significant reporting about safety concerns in ECEC settings.

From our work in services, we continue to hear concerns about supporting children with additional needs and responding to challenging behaviours.

Our new research includes an interest in how disability supports are working for educators as Thriving Kids rolls out. The survey will provide a baseline to help us track implementation and educators’ experiences over time.

We need to hear directly from the people doing this work.

How to participate

We welcome responses from ECEC educators across the sector, in all roles, service types and locations.

We appreciate that 20–30 minutes is a significant commitment in educators’ busy lives. The questions allow us to make comparisons that help explain educators’ experiences within Australia and internationally.

The study has University of Queensland human research ethics approval, reference 2025/HE000895. The survey will remain open until the end of January 2027.

Access the survey here.

Professor Karen Thorpe is an ARC Laureate Professor and Group Leader, Early Childhood Development, at The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute.