A GROUP of towns which enjoy year-round sunshine are offering workers £80,000 a year to move there – plus free food and accommodation.
The promotion is designed to attract “fly-in, fly-out” (FIFO) workers to the area, where a key sector is experiencing a significant staff shortage.
The offer is open to those working in childcare to relocate to one of a set of remote settlements in Western Australia.
The towns of Pilbara, Gascoyne, Kimberley and Goldfields are home to a large mining community, working long hours to extract vital metals like iron ore and lithium from the rocky landscape.
Many of the workers there have young families, leading to a huge demand in the area for childcare.
FIFO carers work on a two weeks on, two weeks off basis and, as the acronym suggests, can fly in from the surrounding area to complete their residency.
Accommodation and meals will be provided while on the job in addition to the pay.
Ongoing workforce crisis
Australian Childcare Alliance
Depending on your level of qualification, the salary can go as high as £80,000 (AU$150,000).
Karri Hillier, chief executive of One Trea Community Services (which provides childcare in WA) told 7News: “The pay rate is based on the casual award rate, with a daily living away from home allowance.
“It’s also very rewarding, providing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and families while benefiting communities and business.
“FIFO also provides the opportunity to ‘try before you buy’.
“Some of our FIFO staff have opted to relocate and live locally when they have found a centre they love.”
The offer is a result of what the Australian Childcare Alliance called an “ongoing workforce crisis” in the sector, with vast “childcare deserts” across the nation.
ACA president Paul Mondo explained: “Our members have reported for years now that staff recruitment and retention is one of the biggest issues in the sector.
“There is a critical need for more government support to help attract and retain early learning educators.
“‘In rural and remote communities, some childcare centres are operating at 60% capacity due to a lack of staff.”
It comes after a similar offer was made for jobs in rural Australia, with no experience of qualifications needed to claim the £80,000.
