That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Government to develop and implement targeted incentives to attract and retain early childhood educators in rural and remote areas, to ensure the sustainability and reliability of early childhood and care services in these regions.
Access to consistent, high-quality early childhood education and care is vital for rural and remote families, both for children’s development and to enable workforce participation by parents. However, communities such as Tambo, Queensland, are experiencing significant challenges in attracting and retaining qualified early childhood educators.
The Tambo Childcare Centre currently operates only four days per week and is often forced to reduce hours or close entirely on short notice due to staff shortages. This unpredictability has a cascading impact on working families. In small communities, where every service and business plays a critical role, this affects local economies, limits job creation, and places stress on families who are trying to balance childcare with employment.
To address these challenges, there is an urgent need for federal-level incentives such as:
• Relocation allowances and housing support for early years educators
• Rural placement bonuses
• Student debt forgiveness or subsidised training for those committing to rural service
• Professional development and mentoring tailored to remote contexts
Such incentives would help build a stable workforce and enable isolated daycare centres to deliver consistent, full-time services — supporting not just children and their families, but broader communities.
