Our union has a long history of support for employees in early childhood education settings.
Recent improvements to the wages of early childhood education professionals employed in long day care centres, which our union was instrumental in achieving, are a perfect example of the positive difference IEU membership makes.
Our union has welcomed the news that teachers in long day care centres across Australia will receive a substantial pay rise of 15%: 10% due in December 2024 and another 5% in December 2025 (read article).
This historic outcome was achieved through the combination of a $3.6 billion funding injection from the federal Labor government and significant recent reforms to our country’s industrial relations landscape, which now allows for multi-employer collective bargaining and other beneficial changes that will see low-paid workers in feminised sectors financially better off.
Hear from early childhood teacher Alex Sutherland, who was recently awarded the NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarship, about his overseas trip to study play and pedagogy on (read article).
In the centre of this publication is a four-page liftout featuring extracts from the information sheets written by ACECQA in close consultation with our union (read article).
These are useful resources for early childhood education staff to help streamline documentation processes and reduce unnecessary duplication, while ensuring legislative and quality standards are met.
Learn about why our federal union has partnered with a new coalition, launched by The Parenthood, which is fighting to ensure children in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia have equitable access to ECEC services (read article)
A global report published recently by UNESCO has also reinforced the importance of quality policy and investment in ECEC (read article).
Please enjoy this edition of Bedrock and as you read remember that the positive progress made in the ECEC sector is thanks to IEU members like you and the power of our collective action.