United Voice News
Childcare professionals deserve better recognition says Minister Ellis
Children from the NSW Central Coast tested the childcare skills of Australia’s Childcare Minister when she spent Friday afternoon working as a childcare professional at a local childcare centre.
At the end of her shift the Minister summed up her thoughts on childcare professionals by saying "It is really important that we recognize that these workers in childcare centres right around the nation are often the unsung heroes of our community and deserve much better recognition and much better value."
LHMU, the childcare union, wants politicians to gain a real understanding of the many challenges childcare professionals face. The Hon Kate Ellis, MP, Minister for Early Childcare Education and Care, accepted the challenge to get out from behind her desk to experience first hand the realities of working in childcare, spending the afternoon working at the ABC Green Point Childcare Centre. Also doing the “Walk” was Deb O’Neill, Labor candidate for Robertson.
Sue Lines, LHMU Assistant National Secretary, says “We’re delighted the Minister responsible for making decisions on the future of childcare accepted the ‘Walk in My Shoes” challenge. There is no better candidate for the ‘Walk’.”
Tasks Minister Ellis helped with included supervision of arts, dance and musical activities as well as helping with lunch and cleaning. Childcare professionals at the Centre also put the Minister through a planning and programming session so she saw for herself how much work goes into each activity.
Rebecca Phillips-Lewis, a childcare professional and LHMU member at ABC Green Point hopes this experience will underline to politicians the importance of the proposed improved child-to-childcare professional ratios and the need for continued funding of the sector. She says “This was a great opportunity for the Minister to see how demanding our job is. I hope seeing how hard our work is will give her an understanding of just how vital the planned ratio changes will be.”
Photos
Top left: Kate Ellis and Deb O’Neil after each receiving their $18.33 Cheques from childcare professional Sam Hudson for one hours' work
Top: Putting the Minister through the childcare ropes
Middle: Kate Ellis prepares for the twice daily bathroom cleaning duty
Bottom: Centre Director Joanne Cole and Rebecca Phillips-Lewis briefing Kate Ellis and Deb O'Neil on programming and assessment tasks
