IEU member and early childhood teacher Paul Collins is one of few men employed in the highly feminised early childhood education and care sector, writes Emily Campbell.
Fewer than 3 per cent of teacher and educator roles in Australia’s early childhood education workforce are held by men, and the sector is grappling with staff shortages.
Collins initially wanted to become a primary school teacher but took the opportunity to complete a double degree and become qualified in early childhood education too.
His early practicum experience cemented his preference for teaching in the early childhood sector.
“I enjoyed the teamwork, the focus on children as individuals and the ability to cater to their personal emotional development as well as academic,” says Collins, who has been in the sector for over 10 years.
“Creating a space built on allowing children to learn from mistakes, process big feelings, practise skills and pursue interests can showcase some of the best elements of humanity,” he says.
Supportive workplaces
Collins has worked as an early childhood teacher for Uniting Early Learning for a decade; first at Summer Hill Children’s Centre in Sydney for seven years and most recently at Uniting Early Learning Iluka Bondi Beach, where he currently works.
He’s had a positive experience as a man employed in early childhood education.
“In my first practicum, and working casually, I worked with other men, but when I started full time at Summer Hill Children’s centre, I was the only man,” Collins says.
“Many of the families were excited to have a man employed at the centre their children were attending at both Summer Hill and Iluka.
“I have been lucky to have always felt warmly accepted by workplaces and families,” he says.
However, Collins noticed early in his career that some families expected him to move on to “bigger things” or to pursue a leadership role, conversations he says did not appear to be occurring with many of his more experienced female colleagues.
Attracting men to the profession
The ongoing nationwide staff crisis is not news to anyone working in the early childhood education sector, says Collins.
“Reports mention this crisis stems from low pay, low job recognition and high stress in the workplace.
“The staffing crisis can create vacuums of effective leadership, a lack of mentoring and role modelling and issues for the day-to-day work in early childhood,” he says.
Collins knows that there are some difficult stereotypes to contend with as a man working in early childhood education, and they can be a deterrent in the effort to attract more men to the sector.
“Unfortunately, there is a common prejudicial suspicion of men in early childhood education and there is also the stereotype that it is seen as women’s work,” he says.
“These views can make a workplace very uncomfortable and downright threatening.
“As I have said, I’ve been very lucky in my career to not have experienced this, having worked in progressive and supportive organisations.”
To Collins, it is important for children to see men in caring roles and professions so they can understand there are many different masculinities.
“Men can be kind, caring, sensitive, reflective, supportive and strong,”he says.
To attract more men to working in the field, increasing professional recognition and remuneration is key.
“Pay is of course another issue, with many of my male friends quickly out-earning me through employment in other fields,” Collins says.