COVID chaos has shed light on many issues in the Australian childcare sector. Here are 4 of them

Abstract

<p>Thousands of families are without childcare as hundreds of services have had to close due to a surge in COVID cases, while many more are running at reduced capacity. Many parents dread another chaotic year that may have them jugging childcare and work at home.</p> <p>The government rescued the childcare sector several times over the past two years - making services eligible for a portion of their pre-pandemic payments as families pulled their children out. But these measures were only temporary.</p> <p>The childcare system was already busting at the seams before COVID. I led an international survey in 2021, during the pandemic, in which early childhood educators’ gave ideas on how their government could support their work. In Australia, 51 educators participated.</p> <p>Here are four preexisting the issues that have increased during the pandemic</p>