16 JunPrioritising vaccination of the early childhood education workforce
ELAA has written to the Victorian Minister for Early Childhood, Ingrid Stitt, to advocate that the early childhood education and care workforce are included in the priority list for COVID-19 vaccinations.
We have seen the important role our sector has played throughout COVID-19, providing an essential service to children and their families. The role of early childhood education and care is vital given increasing child vulnerability due to COVID-19.
Our letter notes that educators, and families, need assurance that early childhood education services remain a safe environment for children and safe workplaces. Educators and teachers have daily interactions with children and families and cannot socially distance. This poses health and operational challenges for staff.
We highlighted the necessity to minimise disruptions to the early childhood workforce due to COVID-19. Given the current workforce shortages and difficulties in finding replacement staff, we are concerned that services would need to cancel sessions or close if a staff members are diagnosed with COVID-19.
We also reminded the Minister that many other sectors rely on early childhood education and care to enable them to work. This includes other essential workers, such as doctors and nurses who have children in early childhood education and care, who will not be able to attend work if services cancel session or close.
We will keep you informed as our advocacy progresses.
