O'Rorke, Deborah - Cow + Koala Professional Childcare

Response:

Industry’s role within the VET Sector does need to be strengthened if Australia is to meet the challenges ahead, especially in a time of COVID. Industry must be the cornerstone as it is where the expertise and knowledge sits. To better engage, I believe, businesses jointly and severally need to be approached, perhaps through their individual industry associations/peak bodies/ chambers of commerce/existing RTO relationships or from a phone call direct to a business. Emails can be too impersonal.

Within the Childcare Industry we have to engage in the VET system as all staff that engage with children must be minimum Certificate III trained with at least 50% Diploma trained or higher (read Degree in Early childhood Education). At our business we also hire trainees it is a means by which we can give back to the industry as well as be mindful of our bottom-line as we have capped income due to how childcare is structured and funded. Other Sectors could have similar regulatory requirements for staff qualifications, although this could be seen as government interference and like childcare, lead to workforce shortages.

Government could also subsidise the wages of workers undertaking VET traineeships, especially in Childcare as we earn far less that the national average wage. They could also make tax-breaks for businesses or subsidise to a greater extent/ better arrangement around trainees or apprentices

Response:

Yes

Response:

Usually when a training package is up for review, the way we hear of it is when we get emails from RTOs advertising that new qualifications are coming and to upskill. By then of course it is too late!
Within childcare it would be easy enough to get business details for the whole sector (by agreement) and communicate directly, hold consultations via Zoom.

We do not feel as a small business, that we are represented by the current situation. It is the ‘squeaky wheel that gets the oil’ and that is Big Business/Corporates

Response:

Possibly VET qualifications could be structured differently. Embedded with each qualification, irrespective of industry would be a Certificate I – Employability Skills. This would be an expansion on the existing Employability Skills but also focus on all the skills as employers require in greater depth. This is then the foundation or prerequisite for any qualification. It would also hopefully weed out students who are not serious about their education and chosen industry.

Certificate II would build on these Employability Skills with fundamental skills in the chosen industry. It may also include such things as First aid, or Fork Lift ticket as these are very practical skills and quite often it is the practical tasks that new entrant employees are given.

Response:

When looking at childcare and the fact that all employees (minus one, possibly two teachers at each Service) are VET trained, the VET System most positively must do things differently for us. This will also mean working with the regulatory authority ACECQA to allow for what I see as vital to address both skills and workforce shortages. This qualification as well as provide Career pathways.
I believe there is a need to have an Advanced Diploma within Childcare. This qualification would have two branches to it; one in Services management and the other in Early Childhood education and care. The Service management units would look at how to navigate and manage a Service; how to meet the National Quality Framework requirements, how to apply for funding or grants, units on financial management and how to engage with Government. The Education and Care units would increase knowledge on child psychology and education, language, literacy and numeracy, managing teams, paediatric occupational therapy and engaging with families and communities. An advanced Diploma would also allow for a smaller gap when applying to Higher Education studies for the Bachelor Degree. This could also have the effect of lowering the cost of education for Staff by reducing possible future HELP debt.
I have found many Educators do not have the confidence, the desire or the intellectual ability to undertake Higher Education in Childcare. The issue Childcare businesses have in remunerating Staff is that Childcare has capped income that is determined by the fees that are charged, and, more importantly, the number of Approved places and available staff to meet ratio of educator to children numbers. An Advanced Diploma would bring knowledge to the industry, increasing educational outcomes whist still maintaining affordability for families who are not paying fees to cover the higher wages of teachers.

Response:

Ask to attend Peak Body/ Association meetings. WE would love to have you at our local Australian Childcare Alliance NSW chapter meeting