Early childhood educators around Australia are paid a minimum wage that does not reflect the level of responsibility and training required to do their job, advocates say.
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As part of a campaign for better wages, the biggest early education walk off in Australian history was held on Wednesday.
In a media release, early childhood union United Voice said the walk offs were happening because educators were angry that despite the importance of their work many earn just $20 an hour.
At Cobargo Preschool, educators dressed in red and held a red-themed day of activities while they raised awareness of the campaign among the community.
Preschool assistant educator Sonia Evans said due to government changes brought in several years ago, educators are required to have either a Certificate III or a diploma in early childhood education in order to work, but pay rates had not increased to reflect this level of training.
She said the role of a early childhood educator has grown from just providing childcare.
“This job comes with a relatively high degree of responsibility,” Ms Evans said.
“We are aiming to educate children, provide for their well-being and to support their families.
“[Increasing the minimum wage] is about recognising the value of what we are doing.”
Another assistant educator at the preschool, Shelley Boyle, said it was “quite frustrating” when comparing an early childhood educator’s wage to jobs where there was less responsibility.
“I could work somewhere where there’s more pay, but this is where my heart is,” she said.
“It’s about the children, it’s about parents seeing them happy.”
At Bermagui Preschool, the walk off was recognised with a blue-themed day.
The preschool’s director/teacher Narelle Myers said the campaign occurred on Wednesday, also International Women’s Day, because female-dominated jobs were more likely to have significantly lower rates of pay.
“The government needs to invest in better funding for early childhood education and pay parity for those that work in this sector," she said.
“We can’t expect parents to pay more in fees, which in some services are well over $100 a day.”
Ms Myers said there was a lack of understanding of the importance of early childhood education.
“From birth to five years old children learn more than they will ever learn at other times in their lives,” Ms Myers said.
She said children must be taught basic knowledge early on such as healthy eating or reading, otherwise a greater investment must be made later in their lives if children are deficient in these areas.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
