United Voice News
LHMU members met with Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson at 3:15pm yesterday to discuss the urgent need for childcare reform.
The delegation who met with Mr Wilson consisted of four childcare workers who believe childcare reforms must be addressed at COAG on December 7.
Branch Secretary Gary Bullock said the members would explain the urgent need for reforms to the Minister.
“The LHMU feels it’s really important to reform the childcare sector not only for the welfare of workers, but also for the children of Queensland,” Gary said.
“We want to see the best possible national reforms made to ratios, industry training, non-contact time (or preparation time) and wages and we think the sooner it’s done, the better.”
LHMU members have been working together in the national Big Steps campaign to win better quality conditions for workers and children across the country.
“COAG presents a rare opportunity to make a change for the better in the sector and we can’t afford to let it pass by,” Gary said.
“With so many concerns in Queensland about low academic performance of school-age children, we can’t afford to forget that a good education begins with quality childcare.
“It’s a shame there’s been such vocal opposition to childcare reforms voiced by some sectors of the industry.
“We don’t feel that opposition is representative of the broader attitudes of Queenslanders – our experience shows most parents would gladly pay a few more dollars a day for the best possible child care for their children.
“The fact is that the pay and conditions currently experienced by childcare workers are simply inadequate to keep many of them in the industry long-term.”
Australian governments are proposing to raise qualification levels in the sector. This has been shown to improve the quality of education and care.
Governments are proposing that all staff have a minimum Cert III and that 50 percent of staff have a diploma by 2013.
They are also proposing to increase the number of degree qualified teachers.
