Educators rally for better pay
Early childhood educators out in force on Wednesday afternoon
EARLY childhood educators gathered at the Toowoomba Railway Station yesterday to demand better pay and recognition.
Toowoomba educator Kate Currie, who is the lead educator at the Wilsonton Kate’s Place, said she was getting paid at a similar level to what she received in retail, because early childhood education was not considered a professional skill.
“There needs to be more recognition for what we do and the training involved for what we do,” she said.
ABOUT one dozen early childhood educators were out in force yesterday afternoon to rally for better pay conditions.
Toowoomba educator Kate Currie, who is the lead educator at the Wilsonton Kate’s Place, said she was marching as there was not enough recognition for what early educators did.
“Childcare is definitely more than changing nappies and wiping snotty noses,” Ms Currie said.
“There is a lot of programming that goes into it.
“We’re teaching young children colours, numbers, words, how to self-regulate their emotions at times.
“There needs to be more recognition for what we do and the training involved for what we do.”
Ms Currie said she was getting paid at a similar level to what she received in retail, because early childhood education was not considered a professional skill.
“No offence to people who work in retail, as I did that for a considerable amount of years, but you might not need a qualification for that,” she said.
“I get paid similar to that and yet I’m required to have a certificate three and then go on to a diploma if I’m moving up in the field, and then a degree after that.”
United Voice senior regional organiser Diann Fenwick said educators in Toowoomba had been campaigning for more than a decade to claim professional wages for the sector.
“Educators are saying it’s time,” she said.
“It’s time for the government to listen and time to move this sector into the professional sector.”
Ms Fenwick said educators had to have tertiary education to work in the sector, and a number had degrees, making educators professionally qualified.
“The lowest pay rate when they’re qualified is about $22 an hour. That needs to change,” she said.
The rally in Toowoomba was one of dozens around Australia yesterday.