In this issue:

1. Childcare members meet with ministers to discuss national changes

2. Quality depends on better pay and ratios, members tell fed minister

Dear member,

Your voice is being heard by government.

Fellow Victorian members recently met with the federal and state childcare ministers to put forward your feedback on proposed national childcare standards.

In Victoria, over 100 members completed an online survey to have your say about the new regulations, which include better ratios, an improved curriculum and higher education standards.

In both meetings, the ministers listened to your concerns and heard first-hand about the importance of improved ratios and fairer pay.

Across the country members are standing together to have one strong, powerful voice.

By standing together for the pay and the respect we deserve, we are winning better jobs and a professional childcare sector.

Jess Walsh
Secretary,
LHMU Victoria

1. Childcare members meet with ministers to discuss national changes

Childcare members recently met with the state and federal ministers to make our voice heard about the proposed changes to national regulations.

Members’ push for one national childcare standard took a major step forward recently when the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) released proposed reforms for national regulations.

Three members recently met with Victorian Childcare Minister Maxine Morand (pictured, middle) to discuss the results of a survey completed by over 100 members.

‘She seemed really interested in our experiences and passionate about child care,’ member Kristy Jones said (pictured, second from left).

The Minister agreed the evidence for better ratios was irrefutable, and was sympathetic to childcare professionals’ current working conditions.

‘You can’t watch over 15 kids by yourself. You are stuck if something happens and you have to give your attention to one child, it’s just crazy,’ Kristy said.

Nearly 70% of Victorian members want 1:3 ratios for under threes, and 1:10 ratios for children over three to be introduced by December 2010, the earliest date proposed under the national regulations.

Ms Morand said where better ratios exist in Victoria, they will be maintained.

‘We said to her that we can’t afford to wait until 2014 for these ratio changes to be made,’ Kristy said.

Three-quarters of members who completed the survey said lack of pay for diploma holders and room leaders was a major barrier to further study. Education costs are another major barrier.

‘We’re much more than babysitters. It is the most important time in a child’s life, and it’s our job to educate them.’

Kristy said without fairer pay the government is not going to achieve their goal of having 50% of childcare workers as diploma holders by 2013.

‘We deserve to be treated with respect for the important role we play, and that means being paid fairly.’

2. Quality depends on better pay and ratios, members tell fed minister

Members from around the country recently presented federal Childcare Minister Kate Ellis with a submission on the proposed national childcare reforms.

‘We told the Minister what childcare members wanted to see in proposed government reforms; recognition of experience in qualifications, study support and pay that attracts and retains skilled staff,’ Victorian member Bronwen Jefferson said (second from right).

Members made the submission based on a recent survey of 500 members from around the country.

Here’s what you said:

- 91% of members said that where states have better ratios than the national standard, these state standards should be retained.

- 77% believe low wages are a barrier to getting further skills.

- 63% believe lack of paid time to study makes up-skilling unaffordable.

- 85% want government-funded staff training to better explain legal and professional responsibilities.