United Voice News
In this issue:
1. National childcare reforms: It’s time to have your say!
2. Childcare member wins over $8500 after centre loses records
Dear member,
For many years childcare members have been pushing for one set of quality, strong national regulations.
The quality of childcare should be equally high in every state: all children deserve excellent care, and child care professionals need the same standards across the country to deliver it.
In a big win for members, the state and federal governments are now proposing to make this change. Proposals include better ratios for the over-threes and a new national curriculum.
In Victoria, we won better ratios for under threes, and higher qualification standards by standing together for change.
National standards are our chance to continue reforming our sector and improving the standard of childcare that we can deliver.
Next month members from across the country will be meeting with Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth Kate Ellis to discuss the changes.
Recently, Victorian leaders and delegates met to discuss improving pay and planning time to develop professionalism further.
To win the pay and respect we deserve, we need to stand together across the country with one strong, powerful voice.
Jess Walsh
Secretary,
LHMU Victoria
1. National childcare reforms: It’s time to have your say!
LHMU members’ push for one national childcare standard has taken a major step forward.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has released proposed reforms for new national childcare regulations.
John Street Community Childcare Centre member Babbette Casey said it would be much better if all
Australian centres were under the same strong regulations.
Possible changes to current Victorian ratios of 1:15 to 1:10 nationally for four and five year olds were ‘really exciting’, said Babbette.
‘Staff will be less stressed. It will give them the time to build even closer relationships with children and engage them in our early childhood programs.’
‘It’s going to lead to better outcomes in school readiness and in our long day-care programs.’
Further information on the proposed reforms can be found at the following website:
http://www.mychild.gov.au/news/news_030709_childhoodreforms.htm
Survey closes midnight, Monday 3 August.
Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say, click here to complete the survey NOW…
Link: www.tinyurl.com/nationalstandards
2. Childcare member wins over $8500 after centre loses records
When childcare member Judy Munoz learned she would miss out on 10 years long-service leave she was very upset.
Last year Judy was ready to return to work after a serious car accident, her employer told her the job she had been promised was not available.
Nor did the new owner of her centre have any record of her years of service.
‘I was very upset when they told me that. Oh my goodness, I thought, I’m going to lose my long service leave money.’
For about six months Judy chased the centre owner for the money but got nowhere.
‘It was a very hard time with them. It was not my fault, and the centre was very angry with me. But I spent 10 years working very hard there.’
Having got nowhere, Judy called the Union Rights Centre (URC) for advice.
The URC helped Judy prove she had worked at the centre through union and superannuation records.
‘If I didn’t involve the URC I would not have got my money.’
‘But it was not just about the money for me; it was about the support the URC gave me when I needed it.’
Judy was ‘so glad’ to win over $8500 in long service and holiday pay that she was owed.
And now Judy is glad to be back working again.
‘The most important thing for me was to go back to my work and to feel useful again.’
