A wake-up call for Australian early education: the need for comprehensive reform
‘A wake-up call for Australian early education: the need for comprehensive reform’ blog article was written by Hanif Reza Jaberipour, Senior Advisor, Parenting and Early Years Program at Australian Childhood Foundation.
Ten years ago, when I came to Australia as an early childhood educator, I had an idealised vision of the Australian early childhood education industry. Overseas, when we watched footage of Australian childcare centers, they seemed like a dream.
We worked hard to make our own settings resemble what we saw in those videos. However, after arriving in Australia, completing my early childhood education certificates, and starting work in childcare centers, I quickly realised that those images represented the best and most ideal moments in very select childcare centers across Australia.
Over the years, through working closely with early childhood educators and consulting for childcare centers, I have come to see that the industry requires fundamental revisions and a complete structural rethink.
Recently, reading the news about the government’s childcare fee cap and watching an ABC News documentary revived all these concerns for me.
The recent announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, pledging to cap childcare costs at $10 to $20 per day, represents a landmark shift toward making early learning more affordable and accessible for Australian families (Financial Review, 2025).
For many, this policy is a welcome relief, particularly for low-income households who may now access childcare for free. This initiative could significantly ease financial burdens and enable more parents to participate in the workforce.
However, while this policy aims to benefit families, there is another critical aspect that needs attention: the readiness of the early childhood education (ECE) sector to handle the increased demand.
The Australian childcare industry is already facing a severe workforce crisis, with a shortage of educators and concerns about low wages and high turnover rates (United Workers Union, 2023).
Without a sufficient number of well-trained early childhood educators, implementing a low-cost childcare model risks exacerbating existing problems.
A major concern is whether educators will be adequately compensated for the surge in demand. If wages remain stagnant while workloads increase, it may drive even more professionals away from the sector, further deepening the workforce crisis. Additionally, as more families – including those with trauma backgrounds – gain access to childcare, it is essential to ensure that educators are prepared and equipped with comprehensive training in trauma-informed practice (TIP).
Recent research suggests that trauma-transformative practice, which goes beyond TIP by actively reshaping environments to foster healing and resilience, is necessary for effective support for children and families affected by trauma (Tucci, Mitchell, Porges, & Tronick, 2024).
The question remains: Is the industry ready to implement such fundamental changes? Many children in the system come from complex backgrounds, and without the right support, early childhood educators may struggle to provide the care these children need, leading to educator burnout.
These concerns become more urgent when we consider the systemic flaws within the ECE sector, which have been underscored by the recent ABC News documentary Betrayal of Trust: Australia’s Childcare Crisis.
The documentary exposes serious issues of child abuse, neglect, and safety lapses, raising alarms about the industry’s focus on profit over child welfare. With nearly 1.5 million children enrolled in childcare across the country, parents rely on these services with the expectation that their children will be safe and well cared for.
However, the reality is that many centres operate under immense pressure, with underqualified staff and insufficient resources to meet the growing needs of children.
The findings highlight gaps in regulatory oversight, inadequate staffing, and a lack of accountability, painting a troubling picture of the current state of Australian childcare, partly caused by the government’s already problematic business model in supporting families in need of subsidised care.
While the government’s initiative to cap fees is a positive step toward affordability, it must be accompanied by urgent reforms to ensure quality education and care. If Australia is to build a truly equitable and effective early childhood education system, policymakers must address not just affordability, but also workforce sustainability, educator training, and child safety.
Without these measures, a well-intended policy could unintentionally compromise the quality of care and place additional strain on an already fragile industry.
References:
- Tucci, J., Mitchell, J., Porges, S. W., & Tronick, E. C. (Eds.). (2024). The handbook of trauma-transformative practice: Emerging therapeutic frameworks for supporting individuals, families, or communities impacted by abuse and violence. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- United Workers Union (2023). “60% of Educators Plan to Leave Amid Staff Shortages.” Retrieved from unitedworkers.org.au
- Financial Review. (2025). PM pledges flat-fee childcare as part of second-term vision. Retrieved from https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-pledges-flat-fee-childcare-as-part-of-second-term-vision-20250206-p5la20
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