United Voice

In this issue:

1. Members ready for next BIG STEPS

2. RMIT childcare members win professional recognition

Dear member,

No one knows childcare like we do.

We know what its problems are and how we can fix them.

What are the next BIG STEPS you want in childcare? Click here to have your say…

By standing together we have already won real change, including better staff-to-child ratios and new minimum qualifications for everyone caring for and developing children in the sector.

These new regulations come in on Monday. They will help us provide better care and development for children, and move us further along the road to professional recognition.

But we know they are only a start. We need to build on them and there is no time to waste.

We need better ratios for three and four year olds, we need more than two hours for programming, we need pay that recognises our skills, we need incentives to get further education.

What do you want your job look like in the future? Tell us now…

Leaders and delegates are meeting later next week to discuss the change you want and how together, we can it make happen. 

We need to make sure that we are all standing together in our union, so we have the power to take the next BIG STEPS in Childcare.

Jess Walsh,
Secretary,
LHMU Victoria

1. Members ready for next BIG STEPS

Delegates and leaders will meet next week to plan the next Big Steps in our campaign to improve childcare.

By coming together and campaigning, members won new regulations to improve ratios and minimum qualification standards.

At our Delegates Convention leaders and delegates next week will help plan for the future of our sector.

This plan is crucial so that we can keep moving towards professional recognition for our sector. 

It is important that every one of us has a say.

What are the next BIG STEPS you want in childcare? Click here to have your say…

Members have already raised several changes they want to see: better ratios for children over three, more programming time, more incentive for further education and fairer recognition of our skills as childcare professionals.

Three-to-five age range staff ratios

Member and centre director Babette Casey (pictured above, front right) said the community need to made aware of new higher education standards.

‘The biggest thing is actually broad recognition within the community of the skills of childcare professionals. We are not childcare workers, we are childcare professionals.’

Member Jacqui Watkins said employers should play an active role in professional development. There need to be better incentives and funding opportunities for members to improve their qualifications.

‘There needs to be more focus on professional development. At the moment people who are qualified get stale easily, and therefore, in my experience, leave the industry,’ Jacqui said. 

ABC Epping member Lina Caserta said two hours is not enough time to complete a proper program for the week.

‘I do it because I take it back in the [children’s] room or I take it home. I’ve always said you need more time to do the program planning.’

Member Bindi Miles from ABC Werribee said it is impossible for childcare professionals to deliver top quality care and education with the worst ratios for three and four year olds in the country.

‘Not one of these changes is less important than another,’ said Bindi.

‘In the centres that have over staffing (higher than legislated staff-to-infant ratios) it has been proven that the children receive a higher level of care and education every minute of the day, not just at certain points of the day.’

‘If we are able to be recognised and put all these changes through, we will be able to deliver that high level of care to the children.’

What do you want your job look like in the future? Tell us now…

2. RMIT childcare members win professional recognition

At one Melbourne’s childcare centres, members are finally being recognised as professionals, coordinator and delegate Margaret Crosbie said.

The 12 members at RMIT were delighted to win pay increases of more than $55 a week as part of their first ever union collective agreement.

‘It’s really positive for all the staff who work so hard. We all know childcare is pretty undervalued within the community, a lot of people still think of us as babysitters.

Anything that helps with the status of our jobs is good,’ Margaret said.

‘We’re finally being seen as valuable members of the RMIT staff.’

The team held onto other above award conditions including stronger redundancy payouts, better long service leave and grace-and-favour days over Christmas.

The new agreement runs until the end of the year, when members plan to negotiate a new EBA that includes better maternity leave conditions.

‘Childcare has still got a long way to go but its definitely improving its image and professionalism. The changes in the regulations will really help as well.’

Now childcare members are coming together across the state to also win fairer pay.

We also want better ratios and higher qualification standards as part of our BIG STEPS in Childcare campaign to win professional recognition for our whole sector.

What are the next BIG STEPS you want in childcare? Click here to have your say…