Child Care News

The maddening reason early childhood educators aren't valued & why we all lose
Women's Agenda - Georgina Dent - March 29, 2018

It is symptomatic of a world that fails to value the invaluable work of caring for small people, which is maddening when you consider the reams of research that confirm the benefits associated with high-quality early education and care. It is the ultimate win-win for government...

Childcare workers would deserve better pay if they were more skilled
Sydney Morning Herald - Cynthia Pickering - March 29, 2018

The childcare workers' strike this week has been an opportunity to reflect on the role these mainly young and low-paid women play in our society. They do the thankless, dirty and messy and brain-numbingly mundane job of caring for the young. But do childcare workers really deserve a pay...

Childcare centres rule in Queensland
Financial Review - Su-Lin Tan - March 28, 2018

Four childcare centres in Queensland have sold to private investors, a listed trust and a developer for $24.075 million. A Melbourne-based, ASX-listed REIT bought a 2539 square metre centre leased to national childcare operator Petit Early Learning Journey at 38 Wellington Street, Wooloowin..

Childcare angst: 'People still believe we're just babysitters'
The Observer - Julia Bartrim - March 28, 2018

The protesters, organised by the United Voice are asking the Federal Government to subsidise a wage increase of 35 per cent. Shelly Holzheimer a life member of United Voice said parents pay enough for childcare and it was already unaffordable for many. "The government must step...

Revealed: Childcare workers paid less than McDonald's workers
The New Daily - Christiane Barro - March 27, 2018

Childcare workers responsible for caring for children in their most critical years of development are among the lowest-paid workers in Australia, The New Daily can reveal.On Tuesday, roughly 6500 early childhood educators from more than 300 centres walked off the job to protest...

Why even non-parents should pay for childcare
The Daily Telegraph - Sarrah Le Marquand - March 27, 2018

FOR a country that reacted decisively within hours of news breaking as to a cricket cheating scandal, it says a lot about our national priorities that the scandal engulfing our childcare sector continues to remain ignored. Alarming details come to light about our most high-profile sporting...

Childcare workers' strike won't win them a pay rise. Here's why
ABC News - Lisa Bryant - March 27, 2018

The issue, of course, is not because we don't know or think they need a pay rise, but because we can't decide whom should pay for it. Should parents pay? They know their own wages are earned on the backs of these underpaid educators. But pay more? Ha! Childcare fees are already...

Childcare centres urge early pick-up due to national strike
Financial Review - David Marin-Guzman - March 26, 2018

Childcare centres across the country are warning parents they may close early or entirely on Tuesday as a result of unprecedented industrial action over gender pay gap claims. Unions are estimating 6500 early childhood educators will walk off the job in a bid to pressure...

Childcare workers to walk off work
The Australian - Ewin Hannan - March 26, 2018

Thousands of childcare workers will embark on national industrial action tomorrow with their union warning the "biggest early education walk off in Australian history" will cause rolling closures of centres. United Voice said 6500 workers would take industrial action in protest...

Govt to spend $6m teaching tech to tots
IT News - Matt Johnston - Ewin Hannan - March 26, 2018

The federal government is trialling a STEM program for preschoolers in a bid to encourage interest in the sector from a young age. The $6 million early learning STEM Australia (ELSA) program, developed by the University of Canberra, will be rolled out to 4000 preschoolers...

Childcare strike: What to expect when 6500 staff walk off job
The Daily Telegraph - March 26, 2018

PARENTS are being urged to make arrangements for their kids as thousands of childcare workers walk off the job tomorrow in their fight for a pay rise. The strike has been touted by early childhood workers' union United Voice as “Keep Your Children at Home Day”....

Childcare workers' strike: 'We educate these children, we're not babysitting'
The Guardian - Neha Kale - March 26, 2018

Unliveable wages are only one symptom of a larger cultural malaise. Given that 95% of the industry is female, the strike also protests the devaluation of what has historically been seen as low-skilled women's work. While academic studies overwhelmingly point to the vital importance of...

Childcare workers demand Government intervenes to improve wages
ABC News - Norman Hermant and Naomi Selvaratnam - March 25, 2018

Currently, childcare workers with a certificate III are paid an hourly award rate of $21.29, which is nearly half the average Australian wage of $42.84 per hour. A certificate III is the legal minimum requirement of training for every childcare worker. In comparison, a metal fitter...

Childcare workers to strike Tuesday over call for pay rise
9News.com.au - March 25, 2018

Thousands of Australian childcare centres will be closed on Tuesday as educators walk off the job in hope of a 30 percent pay rise. Qualified childcare staff are among the lowest paid workers in Australia, most earning just over $20 an hour which is half the national average wage...

How much is your child's early education worth?
Sydney Morning Herald - Kasey Edwards - March 25, 2018

How much worth do you put on your child's education? Most parents would rank it pretty highly, yet many would spend more on a pram than an early childhood educator makes in a week. Despite decades of campaigning for fair pay, early childhood educators live on half the average...