ANZSCO 4211-11
Child Care Worker
Tasmania
September 2014
Current labour market rating
Recruitment difficulty
Previous labour market rating (September 2013)
Shortage
Comments
Employers encountered difficulties when filling vacancies for Diploma qualified child care workers. Key
reasons for this included the challenges of attracting people to work in the industry due to the low
wages relative to the level of responsibility and working conditions. In addition, applicants who held a
relevant qualification could not demonstrate a level of competency that satisfied employer expectations.
Employers recruiting for Certificate III child care workers filled all their vacancies with suitably qualified
applicants.
It should be noted that the research undertaken for this report included vacancies for both Certificate III
and Diploma qualified child care workers. The focus of the rating in 2013 was on employers who were
seeking to recruit child care workers with at least Diploma level qualifications.
Survey results
 All vacancies for Certificate III qualified child care workers were filled. Employers received an average
of 3.5 qualified applicants per vacancy with 1.7 applicants per vacancy considered suitable. The
vacancies researched for Certificate III qualified child care workers were located in metropolitan
areas.
 Employers reported that 54 per cent of vacancies for Diploma qualified child care workers were
filled. They received an average of 2.3 qualified applicants per vacancy with 1.6 applicants per
vacancy considered suitable.
 The majority of employers in regional areas had difficulty attracting Diploma qualified applicants.
 Some employers indicated that it was easier recruiting for Certificate III child care workers as
opposed to Diploma qualified child care workers.
 Employers who did have difficulty recruiting for Diploma qualified workers, in some instances, were
willing to fill their vacancy with an experienced Certificate III qualified worker with the view to
training the successful applicant to a Diploma level qualification.
 Employers suggested low wages relative to other skilled occupations were a major contributor to
difficulties in recruiting Diploma qualified staff.
 Many employers made the point that the level of responsibility child care workers have, is not
reflected in wage levels.
Unsuitable applicants
 Some unsuitable applicants did not hold a relevant Certificate III or Diploma qualification.
Labour Economics Office Tasmania
Department of Employment
 Several unsuitable applicants who held a relevant qualification could not demonstrate a level of
competency that was up to employer expectations. Additionally, some applicants did not interview
well or did not pass the required medical process.
Demand and supply trends
 According to ABS Census data there were 1,559 child care workers employed in Tasmania in 2011.
This figure represents a 19.6 per cent increase on the number recorded at the 2006 ABS Census. The
increase for all occupations over this period was 6.3 per cent suggesting that demand for child care
workers increased at a faster rate than for all occupations.
 Demand for child care services has risen gradually in the state. The number of children in child care
(across all service types) in Tasmania increased by 7.7 per cent over the 3 years to December 2013.
In addition, the number of child care services operating within the state increased by 11.3 per cent
over the same period. 1
 Statistical data from Skills Tasmania shows that 106 people completed the Certificate III, Diploma or
Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services in Tasmania in the financial year ending 2012/13. This
figure was 11 per cent lower than the annual average of 119 for the previous four financial years. In
addition, the number of people commencing a Certificate III, Diploma or Advanced Diploma in
Children’s Services in the financial year ending 2012/13 was 140. This figure was 30 per cent lower
than the annual average of 201 per year for the previous four financial years.
 At the 2011 ABS Census 26.1 per cent of all child care workers had a Certificate III or IV level of
qualification and 37.3 per cent had a diploma level qualification or above.
Other indicators and issues
 The National Quality Framework (NQF) for Early Childhood Education and Care is a national approach
to the regulation and quality assessment of early childhood education and care services. As a result
of the implementation of the NQF which took effect on 1 January 2012, key requirements such as
qualifications, educator-to-child ratios and other key staffing arrangements are being phased in
between 2012 and 2020. A review of the NQF is being undertaken by the Australian Government and
all states and territories in 2014 to ensure the goal of improving quality in education and care
services is being met in the most efficient and effective way. The Review will identify what is working
well, areas for improvement and any unintended consequences that result from implementation of
the NQF. 2
1
Australian Government Department of Education, Child Care and Early Learning in Summary, December quarter 2013 and Office of Early
Childhood Education and Child Care, Child Care Update, December quarter 2010
2
Australian Government Department of Education website (www.education.gov.au), September 2014
Labour Economics Office Tasmania
Department of Employment