
Dr Tamara Cumings
Lecturer & Associate Director of Workforce and Policy
Macquarie & Charles Sturt University
Tamara Cumming is an Associate Professor and leading advocate for early childhood workforce wellbeing and sustainability. She is Associate Director of Workforce and Policy at the Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University - a multidisciplinary research centre championing children's rights, and empowering early childhood workforce members. With a career spanning more than 20 years—from early childhood educator to academic—Tamara brings deep insight into the complexity of early childhood practice. Her research focuses on educator well-being, workforce sustainability, and making visible the complex realities of early childhood education practice. She is known for championing systems thinking to drive policy change and sector development. Tamara’s work is widely published and recognized for its impact on shaping healthy environments for educators and children alike.
SESSIONS
Day 2
12:00
Panel: Fixing the workforce crisis in early education
With a shortfall of 22,000 educators and 60% planning to leave in the next 3 years, is the sector losing its workforce to burnout, underpay, lack of value or systemic neglect?
Learn what needs to change to attract, retain, and respect the educators shaping our children's future
Moderator: Anna Learmonth, Chief Executive Officer, Only About Children
Carolyn Smith, Branch Secretary, United Workers Union
Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer, G8 Education
Dr Tamara Cumings, Lecturer & Associate Director of Workforce and Policy, Macquarie & Charles Sturt University