Australia has a qualified early childhood workforce that is leaving the sector faster than it can be replaced. The reasons are structural and well documented, and they have almost nothing to do with whether educators love the work.
The ratio problem
Under the National Quality Framework, a single educator can be legally responsible for eleven children aged three and over. In the under-two room that ratio is one to four. In practice, many centres operate at exactly these minimums. An educator who studied because they believe children deserve individual attention spends their day outnumbered by a system that was never designed to put children first.
The pay
A Cert III qualified educator in Victoria earns from 29.52 dollars per hour under the Children's Services Award as revised in 2026. Award rates have risen but remain low relative to the qualifications, responsibility and emotional labour the work requires.
The burnout
Early childhood burnout is not a personal failing. It is a predictable outcome of sustained high demand with insufficient support. When pay is low and ratios are high, the depletion compounds.
What educators do when they leave
The most common path for qualified educators who leave centres is not leaving childcare work entirely. It is finding a version of the work that matches the reason they trained. In-home care through structured platforms like Nest and Nurture Little Ones offers one family, full attention, better pay, and the kind of care relationship that brought them into the sector in the first place.
One Family at a Time
At Nest and Nurture Little Ones, the ratio is one carer to one family. We bring the clients. You bring the care.
Qualified early childhood educator? Join Nest and Nurture Little Ones
One family at a time. Set your own hours. From 40 dollars per hour. Wednesday pay. We review every application within 5 business days.
See how it works