3 ways the rising cost of childcare in Australia affects studying childcare
If you’re excited to begin a career as an early childhood educator, you’re probably doing a lot of reading into things like:
- Which childcare courses in Melbourne are best for you
- Career pathways you might be able to explore in the future
- The current industry outlook
And while doing your reading, you’ve probably stumbled upon the fact that the cost of childcare in Australia is climbing.
Obviously, this makes things a little bit harder for parents – however, it also affects childcare workers as well – in a good way! Find out more…
Why the increasing prices for childcare services?
More and more Aussie families are becoming dual-income households, with both parents working in some capacity.
And with that means less time for parents to spend providing care for young children.
Australia’s childcare sector has risen to the occasion, helping busy parents by looking after their children during work hours.
Anyone who’s ever studied entry-level economics understands that when there’s an increase in price, it’s usually because demand isn’t meeting supply.
An increase in demand for a good or service – without a corresponding increase in supply – leads to higher prices.
Think of it this way: when demand exceeds supply, you’ve got a situation where there’s scarcity. And when this happens, people start offering more to make sure they aren’t left behind.
That’s exactly what’s driven the rise in childcare costs in Australia – while more Aussie families than ever need childcare, there aren’t enough new centres to meet that demand, which is driving up prices.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we can start talking about its impact on students studying childcare!
How the rising cost of childcare in Australia affects students enrolled in childcare courses
1. Increase in demand for childcare workers
While demand might exceed supply at the moment, more and more new centres are opening and existing ones are expanding to capitalise on all of that demand, correcting for the demand and supply issues in the market.
According to some estimates, the Australian childcare sector is expected to grow to $9.5 billion in 2022 (that’s a predicted 32% growth since 2019!)
What does this mean for aspiring childcare workers like you?
Simple: more career opportunities!
Each of these new centres needs staff to make it run, which in turn means that people who’ve completed a childcare course in Melbourne have plenty of avenues to start their career or take it in a new direction – anywhere across Australia.
And it isn’t just general childcare roles, either…
2. More diversified childcare services
The rise in the cost of childcare could also mean diversification of childcare services – after all, niche services often need to charge higher prices to compensate.
Not that childcare prices are higher across the board, these specialised services may finally have the environment that they need to thrive!
What sorts of specialised childcare opportunities are we talking about?
- Formal academic classes
- Language classes
- Recreational life skills
- Montessori early education
With the increase of prices for childcare, childcare providers may have the means to offer specialised classes to cater to the special needs of children.
And that requires specially trained childcare workers, meaning more opportunities for you!
3. While the cost of childcare might be going up, the cost of completing a childcare course isn’t
Parents and childcare workers aren’t the only ones who’ve noticed the rising cost of childcare – if you follow the news, you’ll know that the Australian government has opened schemes to help make childcare more accessible.
What you may not know however is that these aren’t the only initiatives in place.
In addition to providing relief for parents, the Victorian government’s Skills First scheme offers subsidies for a wide range of courses that are expected to be in high demand in the coming years.
And that includes childcare courses in Melbourne and throughout the state.
If you’re eligible, you can get large parts of your childcare course covered – you may even be able to get it completely subsidised!
If you’re worried about how much studying childcare might set you back, don’t – and it’s all thanks to the high demand and prices that childcare is currently experiencing.
How do Academia’s online childcare courses in Melbourne work?
Are you starting a career or upskilling as a childcare worker? Academia can be the first step in helping you achieve your lifelong dream.
In addition to in-person placement, we also offer online childcare courses that will help you become the best childcare educator while also giving you the flexibility and freedom that come with being able to learn remotely.
Using actual real classes (rather than pre-recorded lectures), virtual whiteboards that let you interact with the content, and our commitment to small class sizes, our online learning system replicates the classroom experience in a way that few other online courses do.
Find out more about studying childcare online with Academia.
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113)
Learn everything there is about a child’s holistic development by enrolling in our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30113).
This course will help you understand the basics of early childhood care for kids of all ages. Learn how to provide a healthy environment for children to learn and play, while applying approved learning frameworks that will guide you and help build positive relationships with children.
Learn more about the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113)
Do you have long-term goals that include owning a family day care centre, or running and managing a childcare centre?
If so, you’ll need to start by getting qualified!
In addition to practical training, this Diploma equips you with all the skills and know-how to lead a team of childcare educators, get accreditation, meet licensing requirements, and equip yourself to lead and manage a childcare centre.
Find out more about the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.
Get your start in childcare with Academia
If you want to break into the childcare sector, you’re going to need the right training and foundation.
Luckily, that’s exactly what we can offer here at Academia!
Our childcare courses in Melbourne combine both practical training with in-depth classroom learning that turns you into a well-rounded childcare worker and to set you children up for life.
Curious about how our childcare courses work? Get in touch – call our Melbourne campus on (03) 9671 4755 or learn more about our enrolment process.