United Voice News
Delegates put the case for childcare reform
In Adelaide today 37 childcare LHMU delegates representing childcare professionals put the case for changes to childcare regulations at a meeting with The Hon Jay Weatherill, South Australia's Minister for Early Childhood Development.
The delegates also delivered to the Minister more than 2000 letters from parents and 800 letters from childcare professionals supporting changes to the regulations. The meeting took place in the context of unprecedented national reform of childcare following the Council of Australian Government's commitment to improve quality and standards in childcare across Australia.
David Di Troia, SA Branch Secretary of LHMU, the childcare union, says "This morning's meeting was a valuable opportunity for childcare delegates and for the Minister to discuss why reform of childcare is desperately needed – for the sake of families and workers.
"Delegates especially appreciate being able to put the case for reform to a key person involved in Australia's childcare. The Minister heard first hand about what is happening in childcare centres every day - the unrealistic child to carer ratios, the chronic high staff turnover and the pay which is inadequate for the important service childcare professionals provide – a service which is vital for children, families and the economy.
"The parents' letters demonstrate families' support for improved quality and standards in childcare which underpin our national Big Steps in childcare," says David Di Troia.
In the letters parents call for:
* Improved ratios – to give staff more time to engage and interact with children;
* Increased opportunities for staff to access training to further increase their knowledge and skills as Early Childhood Educators;
* More non-contact time for staff to plan and deliver a high quality program that will give children the best start in life;
* Better wages that reflect the high quality care and education that Childcare Professionals deliver.
Childcare workers comment on meeting with Minister Weatherill:
"Leaving the meeting with Minister Weatherill I felt hope…hope that change is coming and that we have a government that supports those changes. It felt good that childcare professionals are being listened to." – Bridgett, Blackwood Childcare Centre
"I was reassured to hear that the Minister values childcare professionals for the skills and experience that we bring to our work and that caring for young children is a specialized field." – Dianne, Flinders University Childcare Centre
Childcare is under going many changes which can be positive, but the fact is, childcare workers are continuing to work under very stressful conditions, which in turn many good quality workers are continuing to leave the sector.Even at the meeting today a few workers commented they had had enough and would be resigning.
How long do we need to fight this battle for better conditions? Yes we are continuing to make baby steps of progress' but the childcare field is still under alot of pressure. We need everyone to pull together to help.
On a current affair tonight, childcare was brought up again reguarding the saftey of young children in childcare.Yes accidents should not occur in childcare but they can happen still and Staff feel bad for them.Childcare Staff's hands are always tied up with dealing with numerous issues. Why do parents, media and others never investigate the conditions that childcare workers are placed under.We need to publisize this more. A wake up factor is required to hit home to everyone what is happening to the industry.