15 Mar2021 National Workforce Census – mandatory for approved childcare providers and encouraged for services
The fourth Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census is being conducted from April to June this year. The National Workforce Census collects detailed information on service usage, children with additional needs, access to preschool programs and staff details, including staff demographics, types of work, qualifications, experience, and current study. This important collection is used to provide a national overview of the early childhood education and care workforce.
This assists the Australian, State and Territory governments to better understand the challenges of providing quality child care and early learning, assess the capacity in the workforce to meet future demand and formulate strategies to support early childhood development policies, including the new National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy.
All approved child care providers are required to complete the survey and preschools and kindergartens have also been invited to provide responses and are being encouraged to do so by State and Territory governments.
The National Workforce Census asks details about employees and children in a ‘reference week’:
- 12 April – 18 April 2021 for Outside School Hours Care (Vacation Care only)
- 10 May – 16 May 2021 for Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care, In Home Care, Outside School Hours Care (BSC/ASC), and dedicated preschools/kindergartens.
Services are encouraged to submit Census responses immediately after the reference week, although responses can be submitted until 11 June 2021.
Be on time and be in the running for a prize
Census responses received by the due date will be entered in a draw to win a $750 voucher for educational materials or equipment. There will be two vouchers awarded in each state and territory.
