After a tumultuous few years for the early childhood sector, Early Childhood Educators Day (Wednesday September 7) will this year be used to highlight the urgent issues faced by the industry with an Australian wide shutdown of facilities and a series of rallies.
Recent research by the United Workers Union showed that 99 per cent of surveyed educators feel burnt out because of staffing shortages and burgeoning workloads.
Helen Gibbons, Director Early Education at the United Workers Union, says that reform is urgently needed
"The results are in. Educators cannot afford to stay in the sector, and the sector cannot deliver quality early learning without educators," Gibbons said in a statement.
The union is seeking federal government reform with a focus on three key areas: paying educators what they're worth, valuing early learning as part of the overall education system, and putting children before profits.
Watch: Thrive By Five on the importance of early education. Post continues below.
Janine Kelly is an early childhood teacher and director of The Big Treehouse Early Education and Boutique Preschool in Newcastle. Kelly agrees that reform need to be made across the sector.