United Voice

Anje Errey and Sue McSullea (NSW), Bronwen Jefferson (Vic), Monique Wickham (Tas) and Katie McCarthy (ACT) spoke to the Minister on behalf of Australia's more than 100,000 childcare workers. The workers advised the Minister that COAG's vision for Australian children and families is unlikely to succeed unless COAG's reform agenda is fully extended to cover the sector's workforce.

Monique Whickam, who has 15 years' experience in the sector, says "We told the Minister that childcare workers across Australia are excited by and strongly support COAG's plans for national quality reform of early childhood education and care. But we also let her know that unless wages are lifted to professional levels the reforms will not be sustainable."

The workers delivered to Ms Ellis the LHMU - The childcare union submission on COAG's Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms.

Sue Lines, LHMU Assistant National Secretary says:

"Option four in the Regulation Impact Statement is the best option proposed in the Regulation Impact Statement - for families and workers. Unfortunately, it falls short of best practice as acknowledged by academic research and international practice.

"Today's meeting was very positive. The Minister welcomed the opportunity to work with childcare professionals and committed to work with us into the future."

LHMU submission on COAG's Early Childhood Education and Care Quality reforms calls on Australian Governments to commit to:

Option four and more:  adopting the highest possible standard (Option four in the Regulation Impact Statement) with the additional improvements required to meet superior standards currently existing in each state and territory. These ratios are:

    • 1 staff member for every 3 babies/infants (up to 2 years)
    • 1 staff member for every 5 toddlers (up to 3 years)
    • 1 staff member for every 8 preschoolers (up to school age)
    • The infant ratio of 1:3 must be brought in by 2012

Quality through professionalism:  incorporating qualification articulation, up-skilling, programming and professional development criteria into the National Quality Standard framework so that it can be regulated for, as a contributing and measurable quality indicator.

An inviting and sustainable career: extending funding through the TAFE system of all qualifications required in the new standard including the Certificate III, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and 3 and 4 year Degrees until staffing shortages abate.

Securing fair wages:  lifting wages to professional levels. We need reform of Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate and an investigation into the capacity of the sector to fund decent wages. Some funding will need to come from governments and be paid directly to centres. This funding should be tied to wages through collective agreements.

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Photo:

Lobbying for reform of childcare - LHMU Assistant National Secretary Sue Lines, childcare workers Anje Errey and Sue McSullea (NSW), Bronwen Jefferson (Vic), Monique Wickham (Tas) and Katie McCarthy (ACT) with The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care and Minister for Childcare and Youth.