The regulatory environment: a source of job (dis)satisfaction for early childhood professionals?

Abstract

This article extends current understandings of sources of job (dis)satisfaction for childcare staff by investigating the hypothesis that early childhood professionals’ satisfaction with regulatory requirements is a predictor of job satisfaction. Findings show that for early childhood professionals in New South Wales, Australia, satisfaction with the regulatory environment is related to the extent these requirements are perceived to support autonomous professional practices conducive to quality care. Considerable dissatisfaction with regulatory requirements was found among study participants. Nonetheless, this level of dissatisfaction did not predict job (dis)satisfaction. The lack of correlation may be indicative of the study’s sample, however, and does not preclude a greater connection between the two constructs. Implications of a possible nexus between job satisfaction and satisfaction with regulatory requirements are discussed, and further research is called for.

Keywords:

• Early childhood education
• Job satisfaction
• Regulation
• Accountability
• Long day care
• Professional practice

Acknowledgements

This article was written as part of a doctoral study funded by the Australian Research Council. The authors also wish to gratefully acknowledge the support of our two industry partners, the NSW/ACT Independent Education Union and the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.