It is Pay AND Conditions AND ...

Last night's Federal Budget announcements included the Federal Government's commitment to funding a wage rise for the early childhood education and care sector. That said, the amount, the details and conditions remain unclear as their Supported Bargaining Process continues with the unions and groups of employers (including ACA).

Nevertheless, we must remain mindful that increased pay alone may not be enough to resolve our sector's severe labour shortages. This may be illustrated by the fact that the NSW Department of Education is still doing everything it can to recruit and retain school teachers for NSW after ensuring that NSW school teachers are now the highest paid in the country since 9 October 2023. (NOTE: NSW school teachers were the second lowest paid prior to 9 October 2023.)

But what about NSW's early childhood education and care educators and teachers? How will our sector compete against other Australian states who are offering incentives of up to $50,000 plus another $8,000 to relocate. 

While ACA NSW has been working on new recruitment and retention solutions, ACA NSW has also been continuing to advocate for the NSW Government to provide their solutions too (in addition to their scholarships and recognition of prior learning initiative).

Such NSW Government solutions should also include how early childhood education and care services', educators' and teachers' workloads and regulatory burdens can be reduced or streamlined while achieving objectives and not compromising on quality outcomes for children.

And equally yet importantly, ACA NSW has continued urging the NSW Government to fix its expectations despite the NSW Department of Education's concerns that 40% of children are not developmentally on track upon starting school and NSW services occupying 54.39 to 65.26% of the national total of breaches/non-compliances. It is worth noting that ACECQA is pleased that 90% of services are either Meeting or Exceeding the National Quality Standards. 

For any further information/clarification, please contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 15 MAY 2024