A number of environmental influences--social, cultural, political, economic, and personal--work against the development of sustained professional practice and a professional self-image in qualified staff in early child care centersin Australia. These influences derive from the low professional status of child care workers, the physical and emotional intensity of child care work, poor salaries and opportunities for career advancement, and conflicting social ideologies about child care work. Burnout, a form of psychological or physical exhaustion that occurs frequently in human service occupations, is generally a three-stage process that starts with self-doubt and blame, becomes growing disillusionment with work and life in general, and culminates in complete physical and emotional exhaustion. Burnout is a multi-dimensional problem and should be viewed as a process and not a product, to avoid oversimplifying the concept and providing ineffective "quick fixes." Using a multidimensional approach rather than a one-dimensional approach to identify some likely causes and constructive ways of combatting burnout should focus on the following areas: administration and management; staff well-being; staff-child and staff-parent relationships; and program quality. Burnout is a process that can be prevented in early childhood centers by developing a multi-dimensional approach that can contribute to a positive work environment. Contains 10 references. (BAC)