Australian parents do not want the qualification requirements watered down for childcare workers looking after small children, according to a survey by a leading parents group.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Productivity Commission's draft report into childcare last month recommended that educators working with children under three years old only be required to have a certificate-level qualification. The federal minister with responsibility for childcare, Sussan Ley, said the commission makes a "good point" with the recommendation, arguing there is no doubt that current formal qualification requirements are adding to childcare costs and that qualified staff may not be available.
But a Productivity Commission hearing into the draft report on Monday heard that parents were almost unanimously against the move. Advocacy group The Parenthood said a national survey it was conducting had found that of more than 600 parents polled so far, 95 per cent did not want qualification levels reduced.
"We feel strongly that we wouldn't accept as parents, teachers working in a primary school that weren't qualified," executive director Fiona Sugden said, adding that parents felt the "same way" about early childhood learning.
Ms Sugden said watering down the qualifications went against the scientific evidence about the significant brain and physical development that occurs in the first years of a child's life.
She added that parents were also against the Productivity Commission's suggestion that all governments should allow childcare services to temporarily operate with staffing levels below required educator-to-child ratios by maintaining levels on average, rather than at all times.
"As parents we believe that these recommendations do put money ahead of our children's education," she told the hearing in Canberra.
The survey, which is still collecting responses, also found 98 per cent of respondents said they would not send their child to a centre that had lower educator-to-child ratios, even if the fees were slightly cheaper.
Ms Sudgen's evidence was supported by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth. Researcher Stacey Fox said that reducing qualification levels were a concern, arguing the "evidence for how children learn and develop in the first three years is exceptionally strong". "We need to start early," she said.
Presiding commissioner Wendy Craik appeared sceptical about the argument, asking, "What evidence is there that you need a tertiary degree to help a young child learn?"
Dr Fox replied there was a "body of evidence" that suggested that the qualification flowed on to improved interactions with children and more structured learning environments.
Dr Craik continued to appear unconvinced, noting that in schools and universities the best teachers were not necessarily the most highly qualified.
The Productivity Commission also heard from the Australian Nanny Association who welcomed the draft proposal for government support for nannies on Monday.
President Danielle Roberston said a wide range of Australian families used nannies - including parents who were shift workers, blue collar workers, lawyers, teachers and "ladies of the night".
Vice president Annemarie Sansom said there was a misconception that "nannies are just for the rich".
