United Voice News
Sharryn Jackson walks in the shoes of childcare professionals
LHMU, the childcare union, wants politicians in the run up to the federal election to gain a real understanding of the many challenges childcare professionals face. There is no better way to understand this than to see it first hand, so on Monday, August 9th, Labor candidate for Hasluck Sharryn Jackson spent time in Coolabaroo Child Care Centre in Thornlie ‘walking in the shoes’ of a childcare professional.
The ‘Walk in My Shoes’ challenge is a chance for candidates to really experience the life of a childcare professional. They see first-hand the outstanding education and care childcare professionals provide and learn how poorly paid they are for the work they do.
Dave Kelly, LHMU branch secretary said: “We really want to educate MPs about the realities of the sector. We hope then that we can create a group of childcare champions who can draw on these experiences when contributing to childcare policy and debate.”
Ms Jackson spent the day interacting and playing with babies and toddlers, calming them for sleep time and clearing up after lunch.
“I was surprised at how physical it was and the pressure on my back,” said Sharryn. “There was constant bending over which is probably good exercise for me, but I imagine doing it day to day would be quite heavy work.
“I have always had a great deal of respect for childcare workers. When I worked for the union, childcare was one of the first areas I worked in and at the time I remember thinking that people don’t understand in detail what the job entails.
“It has been really good to be reminded of that and I think it’s really good that there are still people that want to come into the industry even though the rates of pay don’t recognise the expertise and hard work that is required.”
Childcare worker and LHMU member Vicki Trigwell said she thought this was a great way of showing decision makers what life on the frontline of childcare is like. “We have a lot of responsibility and a lot of trust is put in us but we don’t get paid enough for it. My son is 18 and an apprentice and I am getting paid only $3 an hour more than him. 
Her colleague Hilda Dixon, a childcare worker for 19 years added: “I think Sharryn will have seen the hard work we put in. You have to be a nurse, a mother, an educator, a carer and a play mate all in one with these children.”
LHMU hope this experience will underline to politicians the importance of the proposed improved child to childcare professional ratios and the need for continued funding of the sector. Mr Kelly said: “We hope Ms Jackson saw today how important it is that childcare professionals have adequate time with the children.”
