More men are being encouraged to work in the childcare industry to help the balance in the largely female dominated workforce.
Latest figures show only 5.6 per cent of the national early childhood education and care workforce is male.
Childcare SA president Kerry Mahony believes the number of men in childcare would rise under federal reforms, but thinks men must change preconceived ideas on careers.
“I would have thought they would be an emerging species rather than a vanishing one,” he said.
“Some (men) may not be at ease entering a truly female dominated workforce.”
From January 1, 2014, half of all the educators in childcare centres must have or be working towards a diploma qualification or higher.
The remaining half must have or be working towards a certificate III qualification.
Mr Mahony, who also runs the Glandore Childcare Centre, said children seemed to like the humour of a male care worker.
Childcare educator Glenn Wagland men nationally working with youngsters it’s a dream job.
He nteisn’t fussed about being in a traditionally female dominated career.
Mr Wagland, 48, happily spends most of his days interacting with children outside, passing on his love of the environment, focussed “on ground level”.
“You don’t notice that your workplace is full of women because you are actually working with children all day,” he said.