Community preschool educators from the Upper Hunter have rallied in Sydney today, calling on the State Government to urgently address funding and wage concerns.
Staff from Muswellbrook and Merriwa preschools joined colleagues at Martin Place, saying months of inaction have left centres struggling to meet legally mandated pay rises.
A Fair Work Commission gender undervaluation case has delivered a staggered 25 per cent wage increase for early childhood educators over several years, with the first increase already due. Preschool representatives say those increases have not been matched with additional government funding.
“We certainly would have cancelled had we had some kind of response from the New South Wales Government,” said Raelee Smith, Educational Leader at Muswellbrook Preschool Kindergarten
“But unfortunately, we’ve had no response other than that our funding will be reviewed.”
Educators say community preschools cannot afford the increases under current funding models, warning staff shortages are worsening and families are already facing higher fees as centres try to cover costs.
They say the impact is particularly acute in rural and regional areas, where community preschools are often the only early childhood education option available to families.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says he’d have to wait and see what the budget says before making a call.
“We’d like to do more when it comes to community run preschools, but it’s a difficult one to get right,” he said.
“We’re not direct employers of the workforce. So, we’re not involved in the employment arrangements.
“We we take money at the beginning and then it filters down through the community sector.”
The Premier says that this current dispute differs from other industrial disputes.
“When we’ve had industrial disputes in the past, for example, with nurses or teachers, then we can negotiate pay and conditions and other types of efficiencies within that particular department,” he said.
“So it’s a tricky one for us. We’re not closing the door on those discussions but I can’t commit to it today.”
