Time to move on?: a study of training participation by caregivers working in chartered home-based schemes in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

This study examines participation in training by caregivers working in chartered home-based schemes in Aotearoa/ New Zealand. A written questionnaire was sent to 391 caregivers. There was a 59% response rate. The questionnaire collected information about caregivers' personal and work-related characteristics, their training backgrounds and factors related to their participation in training. Home-based caregivers in Aotearoa/ New Zealand emerged from the study as a heterogeneous group with diverse training needs and preferences. Major findings were that a) the majority of caregivers had participated in some form of early childhood training; b) this training was mostly of an informal nature; c) caregivers considered specialised training necessary for caregiving; and d) caregivers were likely to participate in training if provided with appropriate support and reward systems. Assistance with the organisational features associated with course access, including assistance with course fees, and rewards for training in the form of an early childhood qualification and better pay were among the incentives which caregivers indicated would encourage them to train. The findings show that appropriate support and reward systems for caregiver training are both wanted and needed. The recommendations arising from the study include: provision of training programmes which recognise caregivers education, training and skills gained through experience; that the national qualifications system makes provision for the recognition of caregivers' previous home-based training and allows caregivers to work towards a benchmark early childhood qualification; that a wider more easily accessible range of training opportunities be available; and that research in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, in line with overseas trends, focuses more closely on home-based care and education.