Preschool pay push and billion-dollar fund

What a busy start to the year in the ECEC sector!

The union is still pressing the NSW government to fund pay rises for community preschool teachers through our Unite for Change campaign, launched in July 2024.

In the space of just a few short months, the IEU’s preschool ambassador team have attended several meetings at the Fair Work Commission, uniting in their tireless efforts for pay that is comparable with teachers in schools.

The most recent meeting was on 5 March, before Deputy President Judith Wright. In attendance were our IEU member ambassadors Margaret Gleeson, Bridget Isichei, Melinda Gambley, Jodie Cox, Raelee Smith and Janene Rox, together with IEU officials Michael Aird and Kate Damo. Peak body Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), for the employers, was represented by CEO Michelle Carnegie and Director of Policy and Strategy Laura Stevens.

Government officials declined to attend this meeting, saying they had not yet formed a position. But they assured the IEU they will attend the next meeting on 26 March.

During the 5 March meeting, the parties discussed a draft agreement the IEU had shared with CELA for consideration. CELA was mostly supportive of the conditions, but is seeking certainty in government funding before committing.

We left the meeting with a plan to expedite the bargaining process which includes sending the NSW government an outline of expectations for the next three meetings.

So far, 103 preschools across NSW have joined the bargaining for this revolutionary pay rise claim and new agreement.

Your preschool can still join us: call the IEU on 8202 8900, or email us at ecec@ieu.asn.au.

Unite for change: What we’re calling for

Overarching equity and parity with NSW government preschools and schools.

Pay: substantial wage rises to secure parity with teachers and educators in school settings.

Conditions and rights at work: substantial improvements to better support preschool teachers and educators by providing equity with school settings, including more non-contact time, professional development, parental leave, personal leave and rights for union delegates.

All costs in securing the future of the preschool sector to be fully funded by the NSW government.

In the headlines
The early education sector has been in the headlines with Labor promising a $1 billion fund to help build more than 160 new childcare centres.
The federal Labor government has also scrapped the activity test that dictates parents’ access to government childcare subsidies as part of reforms to the sector. This is a positive step: children’s access to early education and care should not depend upon their parents’ employment status.
Both of these moves are steps along the path to Labor’s stated goal of establishing universal childcare.

Safety breaches
A daycare operator that had recorded hundreds of breaches yet was permitted to keep its doors open has prompted the NSW government to review the rise in safety breaches in daycare centres and how they are handled by the regulator.
When working in early learning settings, it is vital for staff members to be aware of their responsibilities as a mandatory reporter, and how concerns can be raised.

The Office of the Children’s Guardian offers free training in developing a Child Safe Risk Management Plan to identify and respond to risks in your early learning setting. It is a worthwhile professional training course when we have responsibilities in keeping the children in our care safe.