Goodstart pay rises
Teachers at Goodstart Early Learning will receive a 13.2% pay rise over three years, well above any pay rises being offered in the public or private sector. The pay offer came after negotiations between Goodstart and the IEU.
Verena Heron said the pay rise reflected Goodstart’s recognition of the value of teachers.
Teachers will receive a 13.2% increase in their salaries over the life of the agreement: 4.5% increase from the first full pay period 23 February 2016; 4.5% increase from the first full pay period 23 February 2017 and 4.2% increase from the first full pay period 23 February 2018.
Teacher directors will also receive an increase of 13.2% increase in their allowance over the life of the agreement.
A few teachers have been receiving a nominated supervisors allowance – this will now be absorbed into the above salary increases.
Educators will receive a 8.4% increase over three years. (3%, 3% and 2.4%) The teachers’ wage increases are an acknowledgement of Goodstart’s commitment to teachers and the need to ensure the gap between early childhood teachers’ and school teachers’ pay is narrowing.
It was only through the advocacy of the teacher unions, the IEU and AEU, that we were able to achieve higher salary outcomes for teachers. United Voice indicated that their preference was for the same increase for all classifications.
If you are interested in negotiating an agreement at your centre please contact the Union on 8202 8900
ACECQA – new child-to-teacher ratios in place from 1 January 2016
Improved educator to child ratios started on 1 January 2016 in all states and territories, except Tasmania and Western Australia where they were already in place.
The changes bring national consistency to the important area of the National Quality Framework (NQF), allowing staff to give more individual attention to each child under their care.
As part of the new benchmark agreed to by education ministers across Australia, the new ratios will vary according to age group, state/territory and service.
For children between the ages of 24 months and 36 months at centre based services in NSW, Queensland and South Australia the ratio is now 1:5. Previously all three states had different educator to child ratios.
New ratios also apply in the ACT, Northern Territory and South Australia with 11 children to one teacher who are older than 36 months up to and including preschool age. For children older than 36 months up to and including preschool age for all centre based services in Queensland and Victoria, the ratio is also 1:11.
Disadvantaged schools in South Australia will also have 10 children to a teacher, slightly below the 11 children to one teacher in most kindergartens in other states and territories. South Australia is the only state to ensure preschools in disadvantaged areas would have extra teachers, although the 1:10 ratio is the standard statewide in New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
For more information visit the ACECQA website. Contact your regulatory authority for further information or enquiries about the ratio requirements in your state or territory.