United Voice News
Childcare professionals tell Maxine McKew what the childcare sector needs
At a special Sydney forum tonight, childcare professionals will tell Maxine McKew the basics needed to provide quality care and education for all children.
Childcare professional Natalie Sarapuk says workers are excited that the federal government is at last listening to what children need.
“Maxine McKew’s statement that a 1 to 5 ratio in childcare isn’t good enough, is a big step to ensuring quality in childcare,” says Natalie Sarapuk.
Sue Lines, Assistant National Secretary of the LHMU the Childcare Union says:
“What we need to support this are qualifications and career paths for all childcare professionals. With 1.5 million children attending childcare, the sector has been neglected for far too long. Better ratios and qualifications are the two basic minimum requirements for quality care and education of young children.
“In many ways childcare professionals are the real experts of the childcare sector. At tonight’s Forum Natalie Sarapak will be joined by childcare professionals Sheri Aviu, Vicki Thew and Jenny Manning to put to Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Early Education and Childcare, the reforms they believe are critical to solving the problems in this industry.
“A Government priority must be turning around the devastating level of staff turnover in this sector, which is as high as 60% per year in some states. With real opportunities to improve their qualifications and pay, childcare professionals will see there is a future in the sector and will opt to continue doing the work they love, providing crucial services for children and families,” says Sue Lines.
