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The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Burnout, cost-cutting strain troubled childcare sector
Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said. Cost-cutting and excessive paperwork are burning out the early childhood workforce and ultimately impacting child safety, a former educator says. The sector is under immense pressure, early childhood expert and industry consultant Chey Carter told AAP, governed by companies that are left to create their own interpretations of required procedures. An Australian-first study released on Wednesday supports Ms Carter's claims, revealing educators are spending just two-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted time with children each day due to workloads and unpaid labour. The University of Sydney study also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. This is not surprising, according to Ms Carter, who has more than a decade of experience and previously worked at Affinity Education centres. She explained the sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation and limited government oversight. "Lots of the paperwork educators are doing is not always necessary," Ms Carter said. "It's more an interpretation from the provider of the regulatory requirement. You can walk into five different services and see five very different levels of paperwork and expectations." The research surveyed 570 educators and indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. A 2023 report by the United Workers Union found 78 per cent of childcare centres had three or more staff leave within a 12-month period. About 64 per cent agreed staff shortages had impacted the wellbeing or safety of children. Early education director with the union, Carolyn Smith, said workers are expected to carry out many duties outside their job description. She believes cost-cutting is a factor behind the expectation of out-of-hours work. "You do wonder why a trained educator is being asked to clean the centre, take the rubbish out and do that sort of work," Ms Smith told AAP. "That should be being spent with children." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and fix workload issues, the study found. According to Ms Carter, the sector will begin to improve once staffing levels are adequately addressed and owners are held to account. "It's just constant chaos," Ms Carter said.
The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Unpaid hours, heavy workloads take toll on child care
Childcare educators are spending only two-and-a-half hours of undistracted time per day with children due to heavy workloads and unpaid hours, according to an Australian-first study. The study published on Wednesday also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. University of Sydney lead researcher Erin Harper said the findings paint a stark picture of a sector in crisis. "Many educators said they spend a lot of time working away from children in their care and are often interrupted by multi-tasking, administrative work, or cleaning duties," she said. The research, which surveyed 570 educators, indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay, and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. "These issues are not isolated or incidental, they're systemic," Dr Harper said. "The sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation, limited government oversight, and a huge variation in working conditions, impacting young children and their development." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to speed up efforts to improve safety standards in childcare centres. The Victorian government has introduced its own set of reforms, including a register for childcare workers and educators, a ban on personal mobile phones in centres, and mandatory CCTV installation. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and address workload issues, the study found. Childcare educators are spending only two-and-a-half hours of undistracted time per day with children due to heavy workloads and unpaid hours, according to an Australian-first study. The study published on Wednesday also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. University of Sydney lead researcher Erin Harper said the findings paint a stark picture of a sector in crisis. "Many educators said they spend a lot of time working away from children in their care and are often interrupted by multi-tasking, administrative work, or cleaning duties," she said. The research, which surveyed 570 educators, indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay, and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. "These issues are not isolated or incidental, they're systemic," Dr Harper said. "The sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation, limited government oversight, and a huge variation in working conditions, impacting young children and their development." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to speed up efforts to improve safety standards in childcare centres. The Victorian government has introduced its own set of reforms, including a register for childcare workers and educators, a ban on personal mobile phones in centres, and mandatory CCTV installation. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and address workload issues, the study found. Childcare educators are spending only two-and-a-half hours of undistracted time per day with children due to heavy workloads and unpaid hours, according to an Australian-first study. The study published on Wednesday also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. University of Sydney lead researcher Erin Harper said the findings paint a stark picture of a sector in crisis. "Many educators said they spend a lot of time working away from children in their care and are often interrupted by multi-tasking, administrative work, or cleaning duties," she said. The research, which surveyed 570 educators, indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay, and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. "These issues are not isolated or incidental, they're systemic," Dr Harper said. "The sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation, limited government oversight, and a huge variation in working conditions, impacting young children and their development." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to speed up efforts to improve safety standards in childcare centres. The Victorian government has introduced its own set of reforms, including a register for childcare workers and educators, a ban on personal mobile phones in centres, and mandatory CCTV installation. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and address workload issues, the study found. Childcare educators are spending only two-and-a-half hours of undistracted time per day with children due to heavy workloads and unpaid hours, according to an Australian-first study. The study published on Wednesday also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. University of Sydney lead researcher Erin Harper said the findings paint a stark picture of a sector in crisis. "Many educators said they spend a lot of time working away from children in their care and are often interrupted by multi-tasking, administrative work, or cleaning duties," she said. The research, which surveyed 570 educators, indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay, and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. "These issues are not isolated or incidental, they're systemic," Dr Harper said. "The sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation, limited government oversight, and a huge variation in working conditions, impacting young children and their development." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to speed up efforts to improve safety standards in childcare centres. The Victorian government has introduced its own set of reforms, including a register for childcare workers and educators, a ban on personal mobile phones in centres, and mandatory CCTV installation. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and address workload issues, the study found.
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Unpaid hours, heavy workloads take toll on child care
Childcare educators are spending only two-and-a-half hours of undistracted time per day with children due to heavy workloads and unpaid hours, according to an Australian-first study. The study published on Wednesday also found more than three-quarters of educators work an average of nine unpaid hours per week, directly impacting the quality of care they can give to children. University of Sydney lead researcher Erin Harper said the findings paint a stark picture of a sector in crisis. "Many educators said they spend a lot of time working away from children in their care and are often interrupted by multi-tasking, administrative work, or cleaning duties," she said. The research, which surveyed 570 educators, indicates unpaid hours make up a significant portion of the overall workload. At least 73 per cent of educators reported high workloads were undermining the quality of their service, while 76 per cent expressed concerns children were affected as a result. The research found the burden of unpaid work, low pay, and unrealistic expectations was unsustainable, with many educators reporting high levels of mental and physical exhaustion. "These issues are not isolated or incidental, they're systemic," Dr Harper said. "The sector is largely privatised, with inconsistent regulation, limited government oversight, and a huge variation in working conditions, impacting young children and their development." Reforms in the childcare sector have been fast-tracked after Joshua Dale Brown was charged with 70 sex offences involving eight children under the age of two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare vowed to speed up efforts to improve safety standards in childcare centres. The Victorian government has introduced its own set of reforms, including a register for childcare workers and educators, a ban on personal mobile phones in centres, and mandatory CCTV installation. Although safety reforms are necessary in the early childhood sector, urgent changes are also needed to support educators, rectify pay equity, and address workload issues, the study found.
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Liontown Resources hungry for lithium M&A despite low prices squeezing liquidity
Acquisitions are on the cards, Liontown Resources has revealed, turning the table on suggestions its lithium mine could soon be ceded to Gina Rinehart or mothballed. Kathleen Valley is transitioning from an open-pit to underground mining operation and three months ago an Australian-first milestone was achieved when maiden lithium ore was extracted below ground at the Goldfields site. The ramp-up of underground activity is going to plan, according to Liontown chief executive Tony Ottaviano, with the miner confident enough in its progress to invite media, politicians and customers to a formal opening of the underground site. Speaking at the formal opening on Thursday, Mr Ottaviano was bullish about the miner's prospects — despite a prolonged lithium price plunge. The value of the lithium-filled spodumene concentrate Liontown exports from Geraldton Port has declined more than 20 per cent over the past four months and nearly 90 per cent since the decision to build Kathleen Valley was made three years ago. WA lithium mines run by Liontown, Mineral Resources, PLS, Wesfarmers and SQM are all believed to be losing money at the current spodumene benchmark price of $US670 per tonne. Speculation has swirled for months that at least one of the local lithium miners would put their operations on care and maintenance to preserve cash until a supply glut eases and prices subsequently rebound. Liontown had $173 million of cash and about $700m of debt at the end of the March quarter – its most recent financial update. But Mr Ottaviano said Liontown was keen to 'keep proving the underground sceptics wrong' and would not be pulling the pin at Kathleen Valley anytime soon. 'We don't care for care and maintenance,' he told The West Australian. 'We are confident that with the passage of time, we will demonstrate that it (underground) will be a competitive advantage from the perspective that you get better recoveries. 'The open-pit people only too well know that at least 30 per cent of what they mine they cannot process because the blasting has created contamination.' Liontown's share price last closed at 75 cents, up 32 per cent year to date, but a far-cry from the $3 per share offer Albemarle lobbed for the company in October 2023. That offer was ultimately scuppered by Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting becoming Liontown's biggest shareholder. Mrs Rinehart's deep pockets, Hancock's top spot on the share register, and Liontown's relatively depressed stock price has stoked lingering speculation Australia's richest person could lob her own takeover bid. Mr Ottaviano and Liontown's chief commercial officer Grant Donald were tight-lipped about any potential takeover discussions with the Hancock camp or any other major mining players. Instead, Mr Donaldson said Liontown is gearing up to be the hunter, not the hunted. 'We shouldn't just think about Liontown as a target for mergers and acquisitions, ultimately we've delivered Kathleen Valley . . . we don't want to be a single asset company,' he said. 'There's still opportunity out there, and so we're very much thinking about what opportunities may be present in this low-price environment.' Mr Donald implied Liontown was open to examining opportunities in Australia or the Americas, but not the world's other lithium hotspot – Africa. 'Broadly speaking, there's nowhere off the table other than to say, you know, we're very cognisant that competing in Africa is challenging if you're not Chinese,' Mr Donald said. Mr Donald and Mr Ottaviano will likely have to compete with another Lion-themed business based in Perth ready to sink its claws into a new lithium mine. Leo Lithium has finished licking its wounds from an ill-fated adventure in Mali and has about $270m ready to spend on M&A — with a self-imposed clock ticking. 'If no M&A opportunities are significantly progressed by Q3 2025 (the current quarter) . . . funds will be returned to shareholders in the second half of calendar year 2025,' Leo stated last week. Leo has ruled out delving back into Africa. Mineral Resources' Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium mines in WA are rumoured to be on the market, but the Chris Ellison-led company has played down suggestions the mines are being shopped around.
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
‘Breaking point': Nurses escalate action
Thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have escalated their campaign for fair wages and conditions, with stage 2 of protected industrial action officially under way. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed members across all Queensland Health facilities will participate in targeted action, stepping back from a range of non-clinical duties while continuing to prioritise direct patient care. QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls that it was now time for a new, nation-leading offer. 'Today marks a historic step in our push for a deal that recruits, respects and retains this state's frontline nursing and midwifery workforce,' Ms Beaman said. 'Nurses and midwives are holding our health system together through sheer heart, skill and determination. 'We're at breaking point and we're done being disrespected.' QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia The latest action follows the union's rejection of the government's proposed 11 per cent pay rise over three years, with the QNMU instead pushing for a 13 per cent increase over the same period. The government's offer includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, and a final 3 per cent in December 2027. Mr Nicholls has described the proposal as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'. However, Ms Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their long-held position as the highest paid in the country, a status they've maintained for 15 years. She said the workforce was now escalating action to 'keep Queenslanders safe.' 'We are over the state government's stalling tactics and gaslighting,' she said. Nurses are pushing for a 13 per cent increase over three years. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia Actions under stage 2 include not performing administrative and support duties such as filing, answering phones, cleaning equipment, moving beds or entering non-clinical data into hospital systems. The QNMU has also issued specific notices for additional actions in various wards and units across the state. The union confirmed it had provided Queensland Health with the required three full working days' notice to allow for contingency planning. The industrial action has been approved by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). Members will continue to document all clinical observations to ensure safe, continuous care. The QNMU said the latest action was in response to what it described as a failure by the government to uphold its written commitment to maintain nation-leading wages and conditions. It said that under the current offer, more than 36,000 of Queensland Health's 55,000 nurses and midwives would miss out on those wage standards. 'We have not taken this decision lightly, but the government has left us no choice,' Ms Beaman said. She said the protected industrial action is about making sure there were enough nurses and midwives to care for Queenslanders. 'Fair pay, safe conditions, respect. That's all we're asking,' Ms Beaman said. Nurses are not on strike. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates. Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted,' in response to what she described as ongoing disrespect and gaslighting from the LNP state government. She emphasised that while the action may cause some inconvenience for Queensland Health officials, patient safety would not be compromised. 'We dedicate our working lives to the provision of safe, quality health care. As such, patient safety remains our priority at all times,' she said. Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted'. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Beaman clarified the action was not a strike and assured the public that nurses and midwives would remain on the job, continuing to deliver frontline care. 'Nurses and midwives will be focusing on direct patient care, rather than some of the many other additional duties which have been added to their workload over the years,' she said. 'Nurses and midwives will not suddenly abandon their professional obligations or their longstanding and demonstrated commitment to patients and their care. 'But we are standing strong and calling on this government to bring an end to the disrespect and dishonouring of its election commitment. 'The Premier promised frontline nurses and midwives he would respect them. It's time to make good that promise.' Mr Nicholls' office has been contacted for comment.
