The NSW Government is facing renewed pressure to lift funding for community preschools after the Fair Work Commission backed a union push to increase wages for thousands of early childhood teachers and educators.
The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch has been campaigning for increased funding to close the pay gap between teachers in community preschools and their counterparts in public schools and government preschools.
After 18 months of negotiations with the State Government broke down, the matter was left to the Fair Work Commission. While the Commission’s recommendation is not binding, it has supported the union’s call for the State to commit to funding that would bring community preschool wages into line with the public system. The proposed changes could be worth up to $17,500 for some educators.
Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan said the NSW Government now needs to act.
“There are more than 700 community preschools across NSW which deliver an important service to families, particularly in regional areas,” Mr Moylan said.
“In many cases, entry-level primary school teachers are earning up to 35 per cent more than experienced community preschool directors and educators in community-based preschools.
“That gap is widening, and this government has failed to fix it.
“This level of pay disparity makes it incredibly difficult for regional community preschools to attract and retain highly qualified staff. These are hard-working teachers and educators who deserve fair pay and proper respect.
“The NSW state government must take the Fair Work Commission’s recommendation seriously, properly recognise the vital role community preschools play in our children’s early education.
Under the current award, beginning preschool teachers earn $72,497, compared with more than $90,000 in government preschools. At the top end, community preschool teachers earn $93,289, while similarly experienced teachers in state schools can earn more than $129,000.
The union says most community preschools are run by volunteer parent committees and rely almost entirely on NSW Government funding, leaving them unable to independently raise salaries.
“The NSW government must accept the umpire’s recommendation and immediately fund pay rises that properly value the work of staff in community pre-schools,” NSW/ACT branch secretary Carol Matthews said.
“The NSW government has undervalued their work for far too long. This has caused a workforce crisis that must be fixed by paying salaries comparable with teachers in schools.”
The union has warned that without increased funding, community preschools may be forced to cap enrolments, increase fees or close altogether. Many of the more than 700 services are located in regional communities, where alternative early learning options can be limited.
When questioned in Parliament, Premier Chris Minns pointed to the Government’s plan to build 100 new public preschools, including 49 in regional NSW.
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