United Voice News
BIG STEPS towards a professional future
Members in nearly 100 Victorian community childcare centres are bargaining together to take further ‘Big Steps’ towards professionalising childcare.
Babette Casey (pictured, above left) is a leader in our BIG STEPS campaign and she wants to see change.
She is also the director of Fitzroy’s John Street Community Early Childhood Co-Operative.
"I’m very excited and hoping we can improve our conditions of employment."
Babette has worked in childcare for 19 years and says it is time childcare professionals are recognised for their important work.
"We need to see change in the perception of what childcare professionals do. Because basically it’s seen as babysitting, whereas what we do is far more than that."
In their last union agreement these members won wages of about $1000 a year above the Award. They want professional pay and recognition but they know we are going to need bigger change across the sector before we can win these.
"The big thing is the salary. I want to see wages reflect professional qualifications," said Babette.
Members are calling for better guaranteed programming time. Babette said planning hours need to increase if programming is to meet the high standards required by national and state regulations.
"A lot of centres don’t give their staff enough time. Many have to work out of hours to put together a decent program."
The union agreement is set to be another milestone for our BIG STEPS in Childcare campaign and will help encourage private centres to follow suit.
