By Olivia Condous
Thousands of childcare educators will walk off the job today in a demand for industry reform, shutting down hundreds of early education centres across the country.
The childcare industry is calling on the federal government to help alleviate severe staffing shortages, prevent the prioritisation of profit over the wellbeing of children and place more value on early learning education.
Karen Bunker, who works as a childcare educator in Melton, is one of the many workers walking off her job in protest today.
“We feel like we’re undervalued,” Ms Bunker said.
“We’ve been given the title of educator, but we’re not classed as part of the education system, so we’re wanting to be recognised.”
Ms Bunker said one of the main issues affecting the early education centre where she works was a lack of staff, due to poor pay.
“We’ve never had a high turnover of staff, but this year we’ve lost three amazing educators who left the industry for better pay… they love the job but it’s not financially viable.”
“In the day to day, you’re hoping some children don’t come or having to find casuals who are available,” Ms Bunker said.
United Workers Union early education director Helen Gibbons said the nationwide industry action showed workers were committed to fighting for reform.
“After nearly a decade of inaction from the previous government, the early education sector is in crisis,” Ms Gibbons said.
“There are thousands of staff vacancies across the country and centres are turning away children because they don’t have enough staff.
“Many children are not getting the best possible early learning environment and parents are often not able to find appropriate care,” she said.
“Educators have had enough.”
Ms Bunker and her colleagues will join other Victorian childcare educators at a rally march through the centre of Melbourne this afternoon.
