Australia needs 39,000 more early childhood teachers to tackle a major skills shortage by 2023. As shocking as this number is, it is expected to increase, with 37% of early years educators intending on leaving their jobs in the near future and a shocking 73% saying they plan on leaving between now and 2024.
These are concerning statistics, as the Australian Job Outlook estimates that the national early years teaching workforce will only grow to 56,200 by 2025. And 81% of Australian educational directors are having difficulty attracting and recruiting early childhood staff, according to a recent study.
These trends are set to continue and worsen, as demand for early education increases nationwide. Already since 2000, the number of early childhood enrolments in Australia have increased significantly from 30% to 45%.
With over 1.3 million children across over 974,600 families using approved early learning services in Australia, there is an extraordinarily strong, ongoing demand for qualified, skilled candidates to take on the roles of early childhood educators and teachers.
Keep reading to find out what the required skills are of early education teachers applying for jobs in 2021.
Skills and Qualities of an Early Years Educator
Class Professionals is hiring for a range of in-demand early childhood teaching positions such as Degree Qualified Educators, Diploma Qualified Educators and Cert III Qualified Educators. The skills required for these positions which are standard requirements nationwide, include the following:
· Tertiary Qualifications (University Degree or equivalent) in Early Childhood Education as approved by ACECQA.
· Current Teacher’s Accreditation/ Registration (South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria)
· Proven knowledge of the National Quality Framework
· Previous experience working in the early years sector (desirable)
· Valid Working with Children’s Check or state-specific equivalent
· Current Working with Children check
Soft skills are also highly in-demand for early childhood teachers such as effective communication, passion, authenticity and a love of learning, creativity and energy, organisation and respect for children and their families.
The Seven Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in Australia
The seven standards set out below identify what is expected of early years teachers in Australia. The development of the standards for the teaching profession is an integral part of ensuring quality learning and teaching in Australian schools. They are a fundamental component of the reforms agreed to in the National Partnership on Improving Teacher Quality and will help to realise the goals and commitments set out in the Melbourne Declaration.
The seven Australian Professional Standards for early years teachers are as follows:
1. Know students and how they learn
2. Know the content and how to teach it
3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
4. Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
5. Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
6. Engage in professional learning
7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
Applying for Early Childhood Teaching Jobs in Australia
As stated by the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, “the greatest resource in Australian schools is our teachers. They account for the vast majority of expenditure in school education and have the greatest impact on student learning, far outweighing the impact of any other education program or policy.”
Thus, the challenges outlined in this article must be addressed if Australia is to tackle the current skills shortages in early years childhood educators.
Class Professionals is a professional education recruitment agency specialising in the unique needs of the education and early years sectors and we provide relief, short and long-term recruitment solutions, as well as pool recruitment services, for government and private schools, special education needs centres and early years centres across WA and NSW. Our focus is on consistently supplying the highest quality team members and service to ensure unparalleled excellence in teaching and early years provision.
Whether you are newly qualified, highly experienced or returning to work, we have a role which will match your needs. Our Early Years division offers opportunities for relief, long term, and permanent positions. If you are looking for your next opportunity in this sector, please visit our careers page or contact us.
