United Voice

In the last number of years, the Labor government has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at improving the sector, including:
• Supporting childcare professionals throughout the collapse of ABC learning
• Introducing quality reforms that improve staffing ratios, so you can give each child the care and attention they deserve
• Increasing childcare funding by $2 billion dollars.
While a lot more still needs to be done, particularly in the areas of training and professional wages, at least the Labor government have a plan for childcare and are committed to working with LHMU members after the election. Labor childcare champions support the Big Steps in Childcare campaign and will continue to progress the reforms needed in
the childcare sector.
Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party has announced they plan on delaying quality reforms - this would be a disaster for the sector. So when you are voting on August 21, make sure to
think about the kind of childcare sector you want to see over the next three years.
Across the country, politicians have been seeing what life as a childcare professional
is really like as part of the ‘Walk In My Shoes’ challenge. Politicians can get a real understanding of the outstanding education and care you provide and how the wages in the sectordon’t reflect the important role you play.
In Queensland, Kerry Rea, Labor member for Bonner got to see first hand how valued
childcare professionals are to the community when she spent some time walking
in the shoes of a childcare professional. She also got to see how childcare members and parents all over Queensland signed a paper doll to show their support for the Big Steps campaign. Over 300 dolls were collected from both parents and childcare professionals. Nicola Pendlebury from Wynnum and Bayside Childcare’s Centre said:
“I think ‘walk in your shoes’ is a fantastic way of informing politicians just what we have
to face everyday in our job. My job is very rewarding but there are lots of challenges
along the way. Maybe by walking in our shoes they will understand why we need
professional wages.”
Also in Queensland, Steven Miles, Labor candidate for Ryan literally rolled up his sleeves and got to work doing activities such as finger painting and supervising morning tea.
Nicole Fitzgerald, from ABC Pullenvale thinks this is a great way of showing decision makers what life on the frontline of childcare is like. “The ‘walk in my shoes’ program is brilliant. Steven got to see first hand the huge amount of responsibility we face everyday. I think he has gone away with a better understanding of our job and why our wages should reflect this.”
Now Kerry and Steven have a much better understanding of the issues you face on a day to day basis. It is vital for politicians to understand, as they make decisions that affect childcare every day!
Wayne Swan, the Deputy Prime Minister and other polticians will be spending their time as childcare professionals in the next week.