Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would also like to thank the minister for telling her personal story and also for her passion in bringing to this House this bill, the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024, that implements the 15 per cent pay rise for all of our early childhood education workers, who play a crucial role in providing children with a nurturing and supportive environment where they can explore, learn and grow. Through their expertise, they create spaces that guide children through essential development milestones and encourage the foundational skills necessary for lifelong success. These environments encourage curiosity and discovery, helping children not only to build cognitive abilities but also to develop socially, emotionally and physically. Early childhood educators are dedicated professionals who deliver more than lessons. They inspire a love of learning and cultivate an inclusive atmosphere where children feel valued and understood.

In May this year, the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth visited the University of Wollongong and met with the early childhood educators. The minister was an absolute rockstar when she came to Wollongong. Whether it was to meet with early childhood education workers or young people from our local high schools, she just shone. They absolutely adored talking to you. You're an absolute rockstar. She listened to the concerns and experiences of early childhood educators when they highlighted the challenges that were faced in delivering quality care and education in the Illawarra. These conversations emphasised the need for targeted reforms to ensure that the sector can continue providing high-quality education and care to all families while retaining the skilled workforce, especially in regions like mine in the Illawarra.

Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024 is an instrumental piece of legislation for these workers. It not only addresses pay equity but also tackles broader issues such as workforce retention, early childhood development and family support. Despite their crucial role in the development of our children, these educators have historically been underpaid. Many early childhood workers earn wages significantly lower than those in comparable industries. During their decade in government, those opposite failed to take any action to address underpayment or the broader challenges facing the early childhood education and care sector. The Albanese Labor government recognises how important early childhood education and care workers are to our country.

The wage justice bill will help address significant workforce shortages by supporting the delivery of a wage increase of 15 per cent for eligible workers over two years. For many educators, this could mean a rise of $7,800 annually, bringing their pay more into line with the important work that they do. This bill acknowledges that early educators are more than just caregivers; they are professionals who deserve to be recognised and compensated fairly. By improving wages, we are also investing in the quality of education for our children.

In our Illawarra region, access to early childhood education is strained due to the long waitlist for care. Many parents are forced to delay their return to the workforce because they cannot find affordable and available childcare spots. Belinda Jackson and Summer Finlay, two mums from the Illawarra, wrote a submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry regarding the issues that Illawarra families face accessing child care and the implications. They conducted a survey of 73 families around the Illawarra and found that over 33 per cent of respondents had lost more than $50,000 per annum due to the lack of availability of early childhood education and care. A further 49 per cent lost somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 a year, with almost 60 per cent of respondents being on waiting lists for more than 18 months. This is affecting household budgets around the Illawarra, but it is also a loss for the local economy, with predominately women having to delay their return to work or work part time as a result of places in early childhood education and care centres. The staffing shortages in our local early childhood education and care centres are a contributor to these waitlists.

This bill directly addresses these shortages by improving wages, making the profession more attractive and encouraging qualified professionals to remain in or return to the sector. For families in the Illawarra, this will help centres to increase capacity, offering more places for children. And the ripple effect is significant. When more children can access care, parents, particularly women, can return to the workforce sooner, boosting local economic activity. With better pay for educators, we can ensure that all early childhood education and care centres are adequately staffed and that children receive the high-quality care they deserve. Research has shown that the first five years of a child's life are critical for brain development. Educators in this sector support this growth, providing children with the cognitive, emotional and social skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.

I asked some of my local childcare professionals what this pay increase would mean to them. Marina Harris, the executive lead for people and learning at Big Fat Smile, said:

This victory has impacted our 500 eligible Long Day Care and Out Of School Hours (OOSH) Care employees, recognising the valuable and essential contribution that teachers and educators make to Australia's children, families, and workplaces.

The government has shown a strong commitment to establishing a truly universal early childhood education system for all of Australia's children and families.

A key component is having qualified early learning teachers and educators who are compensated fairly.

Properly valuing the early childhood education and care profession is crucial to attracting and retaining a skilled and capable workforce.

It is a vital step towards ensuring universal access to early learning and the sustainability of our sector.

Bridy, an out-of-school-hours director, said:

When I found out the news as an OOSH Director I was in shock because I didn't think we were included.

This wage increase validates the work that we do every day with our children, while helping reduce finance stresses on our educators.

This increase is a step forward; showing just how important our sector is.

That keeps coming up. It shows that they are valued and that we think that their sector is important. She said:

It allows people to do what they love and be financially stable in this economy. I am looking forward to the future.

Danielle, an early learning centre educator, said:

I was pleased to hear the news about the pay increase for early childhood educators.

A pay increase in the early childhood sector is crucial because it acknowledges the valuable work done by educators.

By providing a higher salary, it not only recognises our dedication and hard work but also helps attract and retain future educators in the field.

This leads to better quality care and education for young children, ensuring their well-being and development are in capable hands.

These are just some of the many workers and managers who are excited to see a wage increase in the sector. Others have said it is still a talking point in many centres as it will be changing the lives of those employed but also helping to attract more educators and teachers. Early childhood education and care centres have been delaying expansion plans, closing rooms and limiting enrolments because they can't find qualified staff. This is impacting on the availability and the cost of early childhood education and care for families.

One of the most pressing concerns for families in the Illawarra is the rising cost of child care. Even with increased subsidies, families often find that costs outpace wage growth, making child care a significant financial burden. This bill not only ensures wage justice for workers but also implements a cap on childcare fees increases at 4.4 per cent per year. This cap will prevent fees from skyrocketing, providing much-needed cost-of-living relief for families across the country, including those in the Illawarra. By capping fee increases, the bill ensures that the benefits of the wage rises for workers are not undermined by unaffordable fees for families. Parents will be able to access affordable care secure in the knowledge that the government is taking action to prevent unreasonable fee hikes. For working families, this is a game changer. Affordable child care is essential for parents to re-enter the workforce, increase their hours or pursue further education.

In the Illawarra, where many households are juggling the cost of living with the challenges of finding child care, this bill offers both short-term relief and long-term solutions. It is about much more than wages; it's about shaping the future of early education in Australia. By investing in our educators, we are investing in the success of our children and our society. Research consistently shows that high-quality, early education leads to better educational outcomes, lower rates of social disadvantage and stronger future participation in the workforce.

In the Illawarra, a region known for its resilience and innovation, we understand the importance of investing in people. When our children receive the best possible start in life, they are more likely to succeed in school and contribute meaningfully to their communities. This bill is a step towards ensuring that every child in the Illawarra and across Australia has access to the best early education opportunities regardless of their background. It is also a huge step in recognising the dedication, passion and tremendous effort of all early childhood education and care workers and the care that they put in every day for children.

This increase will help build a bigger early education and care workforce that will, in turn, help to build a bigger and better early education system. This bill is a landmark step towards building a fairer, more sustainable early childhood education and care system. It addresses wage inequality for our educators, enhances access to child care for families and ensures that quality of care remains high. For the Illawarra, this will help to achieve shorter waitlists, more places for children and more opportunities for parents to return to work. It means creating a more equitable and just society, where the importance of early childhood education is recognised and supported.

I would like to thank the United Workers Union for their fierce advocacy for early childhood education and care workers through their Big Steps campaign to help secure this pay rise, and I would also like to thank all the early childhood education and care workers, especially those in the Illawarra, for everything that they do. You deserve this pay rise, and I commend the bill to the House.

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