COVID-19, or scientifically called SARS- CoV-2, has wreaked havoc on the health and economy of several countries of the world. The recent information available reports that 910 new cases have been detected until now, and the death toll has risen to 30,803 to date. In this sector, the parents are in a stressful situation, as many of them have lost their jobs, or their regular income has reduced. In some areas, parents have started to take their kids out of childcare centres. Along with lowering clientele, places with job opportunities in the future are also becoming a prime concern.
The Recent Condition
The current situation of employment in Australia is slowly improving from the downfall of the previous year. In March 2020, Australia registered a job loss of 870 000 people, and 72% of businesses reported a decrease in revenue. In March 2021, the unemployment rate has reduced 0.4 points to 5.1%. Still, the resulting damage from the lockdown and business restriction has necessitated finding a job with demand, security, and a firm economic stand on the future developments.
Experts in this sector are finding the trend hard to predict as the economic nature of the country is constantly changing. They collectively feel that the childcare sector has also suffered, just like the other Australian businesses, due to the restrictions imposed by the progress of COVID-19. The federal government – who is responsible for regulating this sector – is predicting future growth and has already subsidized to help the parents pay their fees. The number of childcare jobs increased to 152000 in 2019 from 129300 in 2014. The federal government is projecting the number to reach 182 300 – resulting in a potential 17% employment growth from 2019 to 2024.
The Required Skills And Qualifications
The interested persons in the childcare sector will have to show inherent soft skills and relevant qualifications to start working. The preliminary stuff they must have is called a certificate 3 in childcare Perth. It teaches the applicants about the basics of childcare and education, several developmental theories, and the things to know when dealing with children in trouble. The holder of this qualification will assist the teachers or educators in the classroom, performing duties like:
- Arranging the classroom before the children arrive.
- Setting up outdoor play sites.
- Making healthy supplements for children.
- Supervising small group activities.
- Assisting the teacher with activities to support the children’s learning, like reading books or helping with puzzles.
However, only studying and qualifying in the childcare courses Perth will not suffice in this sector. The applicant must have a genuine interest in the upbringing and development of a child. Studies have already established the various benefits a child experiences from good-quality early childhood education and care services, some of which are listed below:
- Better intellectual development
- Sociability
- Higher concentration level.
- Confidence
- Inquisitiveness
- Accepting nature
- Resilience
- Capacity to learn during their life.
To ensure being the driving factor behind integrating these qualities into a child, you have to start from the appropriate child care courses in Perth.
Other career choices
The career options are not limited to workers in a childcare centre or a pre-school care centre. The applicants can improve their career and have more responsible posts by either working in their current position for a specific time or having an advanced qualification like Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care Perth.
This qualification allows the candidate to design, head, or complete projects or work as a superintendent or manager in a childcare centre. This course teaches about communication, building and leading a team, and other required administrative duties.
Essentially, diploma students are taught to manage the situations and take decisions that help smooth the childcare centre’s smooth operation under their charge. Qualifying in the relevant field allows them to provide a top-quality support system to the students.
Assistance from government
As said earlier, the government has detected this imminent increase in the demand for childcare workers and has already started a subsidized plan in motion. These incentives offered by the government are designed to encourage the new parents to return to the working sector as soon as possible, thereby offsetting the cost of childcare.
At the beginning of July 2018, a new government sponsorship package amounting to 3.5 billion has affected working families. As per the latest reports, the success rate of these packages has reached 94%, which means that 94% of families are reported to be enjoying the beneficial effect of this federal effort.
Usually, the female member of a couple stays at home to look after the newborn baby. The new government initiative has arranged for childcare to be accessible to couples, allowing women workers to return to their jobs after childbirth. With the increase of women in the workforce, professionals with Diploma in Childcare will increase. So, a new demand for childcare workers is entirely possible.
Federal quality control guidelines
The federal government of Australia had established a quality care standard under the National Quality framework in 2012. This framework stipulates the conditions and guidelines of early childhood education and cares in Australia. The standard outlined a mandatory increase in some areas of early childhood education, namely,
- Increase the staff-to-child ratio to 1:4 for children under two years, meaning that one staff member has to be provided by the institution for every four children.
- In 2017, the current government made changes that made the minimum educator-to-child ratio of 1:15 compulsory for all institutions providing education and care for children reaching school age.
These new quality control guidelines have made changes to improve the overall situation of childhood care in Australia. These changes have also increased the need for qualified personnel in the childhood area.
Human interaction
Childcare and education require human interaction at a considerable level because communication, empathy, and creativity are the three essential qualities to have if someone is interested in childcare. For this reason alone, experts are not assured about the utility of automation in this sector. In conclusion, the demand for childcare workers shows an upward tendency, which is a good indication for candidates interested in making a career in this field.
