United Voice News
Childcare members meet up across Australia to talk about Big Steps
Childcare members from Tasmania and Queensland recently got together to share their stories and expertise.
Right across the country delegates have been working hard to make politicians and the public aware of the issues facing childcare professionals. In an effort to share their stories and expertise, Queensland and Tasmanian delegates hooked up to speak about the Big Steps campaign. The phone hook up gave childcare members an opportunity to understand more about the Early Childhood Education and Care sector beyond their own communities.
On 24th august Activists from as far away as Bundaberg, Queensland spoke to their fellow childcare professionals in Launceston, Tasmania. Members wanted to foster connections and a sense of support and solidarity among childcare union groups. Each group shared their experiences with the Walk In My Shoes activities for the election and both learned some valuable campaign ideas.
The Tasmanian branch really liked how in Queensland the politicians involved in ‘Walk In My shoes’ were labelled childcare champions and the Queensland branched learned about Childcare Appreciation Week and want to extend it to Queensland next year.
The Tasmanian leaders talked about their map activity. Here union members and parents wrote their wishes for childcare on footprints. Members made the footprints into a big map of Tasmania and presented them to politicians during childcare Appreciation week.
Meanwhile the Queensland leaders talked about their paper dolls activity. They decorated a range of paper dolls to emphasise the variety of work childcare professionals do. These were presented to the Childcare Minister, Kate Ellis, pictured with Donna Nunan from Amaze Early Education on the Gold Coast.
Donna thought the idea of states connecting was really valuable. ‘It was great to learn different campaign techniques from the Tasmanian members. They’re doing great work in Tasmania and it certainly keeps us motivated when we can see that there is activities happening all over the country‘.
There will be another phone conference between other Queensland and Tasmanian members in Hobart next month with more to follow with Canberra and South Australian members.
If you want to connect with childcare union members in other states to share ideas and stories about childcare speak to your local union representative. The more people involved the stronger the campaign will be!
