Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the motion moved by the good member for Gilmore. There are no two ways about it: early childhood education is one of the nation's most vitally important professions. It is so important that the educators and staff in the sector are paid appropriately for the crucial role that they play in the Australian story. Without these educators, without the hundreds and hundreds of hours that these workers put into the lives of our nation's future at the most important time of a child's development, Australia would be far, far worse off. It is an unimaginable scenario for our country to go without the efforts of workers in early childhood education, and that's why, for this Labor government, it's a priority to ensure that the sector can operate sustainably to benefit children, families and workers alike.

That's why these increases to the income of early childhood educators are so important. They saw a 4.6 per cent rise in 2022, a 5.75 per cent rise in 2023 and a 3.75 per cent rise in 2024. Now they are seeing a historic 15 per cent rise announced two weeks ago. These raises are changing lives, not just for the workers who are deservedly receiving them, who can now 'buy actual, proper groceries and not sausages and bread' to quote Bec, who is an early educator working just up the road from me in Hillbank, but for the children they educate every single day and for the families that these workers support through years of their lives. This is capping fee increases by providers to make sure that costs are not being passed on to families. This is helping early learning centres across the country retain their current staff, at a time when retention has been extremely difficult. And this is ensuring that these places of learning and growth are sustainable and continue helping children across the country to thrive.

The increase in income for educators and staff also makes it easier for the sector to attract new workers, to add to their capacity, to build on the more than 30,000 workers who have entered the sector since Labor came into government and to strengthen the backbone of early childhood development in this country, lightening the heavy load that has already been set upon educators in Australia. The 15 per cent pay increase that was announced a couple of weeks ago is not just a deserved one for early childhood workers, finally reflecting their important roles for families and children; it is also a needed one, to make sure the early childhood education sector can continue to guide our children in the most transformative stages of an Australian's life.

Don't just take it from me. Far more important are the voices of educators themselves. So I'd like to share the thoughts of workers in my electorate of Spence, coming into work at the Hillbank Community Children's Centre over and over again, and what these changes mean for workers in the sector. Janaya, Amanda, Bec, Misty, Kristina, Connie, Sarah and Courtney are just eight individuals who have been waiting for this pay rise. To them, this is recognition that their work is valued by Australia, for the monumental impact it has both now and for generations to come. As Connie put it, 'This pay rise means that I and every other educator feel valued and recognised for the work we do.' It's also vindication: receiving pay that finally reflects the effort that goes into their work, both in and outside of the centre. So often, these roles are not just nine-to-fives; there's also demanding preparation, before and after work hours. It's also about maintaining contact with families who are in vulnerable situations, to ensure that they and their children have adequate support. So, it's absolutely necessary to reflect the extra mile educators tend to go. As Kristina put it: 'This will help staff because they can afford to make ends meet. Many educators are working parents, so earning more means I can put my child into care and work better hours.'

So, to the Hillbank Community Children's Centre and all the workers in early childhood education and care in Spence and beyond: thank you. Your work is invaluable. And the story does not end there, because this is a Labor government that is continuing to work with educators across the sector, to guide policy that works for them, as well as the parents and children of our nation. That's because having better-off workers in early childhood education means having better education for our children and a better future for our country.

In closing, I'll just make a comment in relation to the words of the member for Riverina. We need to attract more educators to this sector. This pay rise goes to the exact heart of that. That is how we find a solution when it comes to a lack of educators and places in those childcare facilities. Thank you.

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