Work is underway to deliver the $5 million Early Years Workforce Development Fund, as part of the Tasmanian Government's 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the Government recognises the importance of access to quality early childhood education and care for working Tasmanian families, and that boosting the workforce is a critical factor in growing these services.
We know access to quality early childhood education and care for working Tasmanian families is critical, which is why we announced the $5 million Workforce Development Fund," Premier Rockliff said.
"There is no doubt, that one of the biggest challenges Tasmanian families have been experiencing is access to childcare, which is why we announced a $5 million Early Years Workforce Development Fund – aimed at growing, upskilling and supporting the Early Childhood and Care workforce.
"This Fund will support hundreds of workers early childhood education and care roles, providing much need relief to the sector."
Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said this incentive package will provide 200 education and care qualification scholarships for Tasmanians who commit to working with a Tasmanian early childhood service for two years.
"To provide flexibility, we will include qualifications through Vocational Education and Training and university sectors, with each scholarship worth $15,000 or $30,000," Minister Palmer said.
"An additional 20 scholarships for speech pathologists and psychologists to secure employment for a minimum of three years will also be made available.
"In recognising the specific challenges to attracting staff, our relocation assistance will provide incentives of up to $2500 for staff to move to Flinders and King islands and the West Coast.
"We will also offer incentives of up to $2500 every year for between 4 to 6 years to retain staff in rural, isolated, and other hard to staff areas.
"We will now continue to work closely with the peak body in Tasmania, the Early Childhood Australia Tasmania Branch, on eligibility and the implementation of this package."
The fund will be delivered in partnership with the Early Childhood Australia Tasmania branch - the State's peak early years and school-aged care organisation, which we are also investing $890,000 in over three years.
As part of the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, the Government's investment in more quality childcare and early education includes investing $32 million for four supersized Child and Family Learning Centres, support of new or expanded Out-of-School-Hours-Care, and the recently completed comprehensive first phase of the Government land audit for the development of new ECEC, OSHC or vacation care sites.
