There’s a crisis in Australian childcare. Costs have gone up, even though government rebates have increased. Availability is patchy, with an estimated one third of the country living in a “childcare desert”, and quality varies hugely. Staff shortages and low pay have crippled the ability of parents to find care, of educators to make ends meet, and centres to provide properly for the children for whom they share responsibility.
Do you work in childcare and early childhood education in Australia, or have you recently left the sector? We want to hear from you – about your pay and conditions, the way the centres you’ve worked in are run, and the ways those things affect you and the kids you look after. What’s done well? What needs fixing?
Do you have kids in childcare or are you trying to find a centre for your child? How is the cost or lack of availability affecting you and your family? Is your centre doing things well or do you have worries or concerns?
