THROUGHOUT the pandemic, we saw previously undervalued jobs take centre stage, as frontline workers kept the country running during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Early learning educator’s enabled other frontline workers to go to work, knowing their children were in safe hands – it was a role one early learning educator said has continued to be forgotten and undervalued.

“We’ve been expected to put ourselves in danger throughout COVID … the government always talks about all the other essential workers but not childcare,” they said.

“It’s not a very glamourous industry.

“A lot of people see us still as just babysitters, and don’t place value on the work we do ... neither does the government.”

Childcare centres have made headlines recently, with chronic staff shortages leading to long waitlists at existing centres, and some centres having to apply for waivers to run without the regulated staff numbers.

According to the educator, a recent local boom in children has also led to increased demand for places at centres in Hamilton, as more parents return to the office.

They said although centres have continued to try their best to place as many children as possible, the demand for spots simply outweighs supply of both centres and staff in the area.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education and Training said there had been an increase in the number of waiver applications this year to allow centres to operate without the required staff to child ratio.

“We've always been clear that staffing would be a challenge across every sector this winter - and education isn't immune to those challenges, but we're supporting early childhood services to keep children learning and cared for,” they said.

“If a service can’t meet the requirements of the National Law and Regulations, the provider can apply for a temporary staffing waiver through the early childhood regulator to obtain a temporary exemption for staff qualifications and ratios, but only in exceptional circumstances.”

The educator said those in the industry love what they do, but lack of appropriate remuneration, staff shortages, pressure from parents, and the subsequent high stress environment has led many educators to exit the sector due to burn out.  

“There was that big push to get everyone to have their Certificates, and be educators, which we are, but people still don’t see the value in that,” they said.

“You would be better off working a Coles of Woolies than going and getting your Cert Three.

“I want people to understand that we’re here to educate the children, we’re not a babysitting service, our hope is that people will have more respect for us in the future.”