Occupational, industrial and professional recognition of children's services in Australia

This paper examines the history of occupational, industrial and professional recognition of children's services (or 'child care') in Australia. For much of the twentieth century the 'industry' was not recognised by either occupational or industrial regulation. While, since the 1970s, it has achieved recognition with occupational specific formal training and qualifications, and industrial recognition with award regulation, this was vigorously contested by many (commercial for-profit) employers. Despite concessions by employers in the 1990s that trained and qualified staff are necessary - partly due to state regulation- the dominance of profit-oriented employer in recent times accentuated the struggle of these workers for social and legal recognition as part of a legitimate and mainstream industry. This paper analyses this ongoing struggle, and identifies several reasons why the industry's desire for recognition as a 'profession' is unlikely to be realised.