A skilled workforce is essential to delivering high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and to achieving the best outcomes for children and their families.

Early childhood educators, teachers, and leaders are highly specialised professionals, who shape the foundation of children’s learning journey through crucial stages of development and foster a safe and inclusive environment that can promote lifelong learning. The work of caring for and educating young children is complex and requires a nuanced understanding of child development, pedagogical expertise, and ongoing professional development.

Responsibility for developing a sustainable, skilled and empowered ECEC workforce is shared between service providers, early childhood educators and teachers, peak bodies, and governments. The ECU engages in both National and State streams of work related to supporting and building the capacity of the Tasmanian ECEC workforce. Our work is guided by both the National and State workforce strategies.

An image of the front cover of Shaping Our Future: A ten-year strategy to ensure a sustainable high-quality children's education and care workforce 2022-2031 (National Children's Education and Care Workforce Strategy)

An image of the front cover of the Early Years & School Age Care Workforce Strategy: Tasmania 2021 & Beyond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy and the Early Years & School Age Care Sectors Workforce Strategy Tasmania 2021 & Beyond strongly align as they focus on four main areas:

  • Recognition
  • Attraction
  • Retention
  • Qualifications & practice