New South Wales is experiencing a shortage of early childhood trained staff in children's services for children under school age. Research has consistently identified the employment of qualified staff as an indicator of good quality child care. Prue Warrilow, Karen Fisher, Katherine Cummings, Jennifer Sumsion and Cynthia a'Beckett investigated the extent and reasons for the apparent shortage of early childhood qualified staff and make recommendations to address the problem. Some of these solutions are outside the responsibility of the NSW government but require the communication of the findings by the Office of Childcare to ensure their implementation.