A new scheme has been launched with the aim of boosting professional development in the day care sector.

As one of the most important tools for maintaining productivity and a growing family, the professional shortages in the day care sector need to be addressed.

Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley announced the $200 million Long Day Care Professional Development Programme (LDCPDP) this week.

The program is meant to help with cost of training Long Day Care educators.

It includes support for early childhood teachers and regional, rural and remote services to address skill shortages.

The Federal Government says it is redistributing Labor’s Early Years Quality Fund (EYQF), after an independent report found the fund may have benefited just a third of long day care educators.

Ms Ley said about 54,000 educators were expected to benefit from the LDCPDP, which she attributes to a “fair and streamlined application process, compared with Labor’s rushed ‘first-in, first-served’ approach”.