| What: | Press conference as early Educators respond to national Education Ministers meeting today. |
| Who: | United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith and early educators Karen, Preeti and Pallavi. |
| Where: | United Workers Union, 833 Bourke St, Docklands |
| When: | 1.45pm |
Educators will welcome moves to look at safer staffing levels at early education centres across the country, after announcements by a meeting of Education Ministers in Sydney today.
Responding to Federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s announcement that the Early Childhood authority would examine ratios and report back by the end of the year, United Workers Union said educators will welcome the scrutiny on staffing.
“Educators have been unable to devote their full attention to the education and care of children because of widespread understaffing,” United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith said today.
“Recent tragic child safety issues further highlight a sector that has faced rapid growth but has been unable to put in place the necessary safeguards around staffing.
“Educators will broadly welcome moves at state and federal levels to improve co-ordination across jurisdictions, introduce a mandatory register, bring in national safety training and tighten regulations around child safety.
“However they see understaffing as a fundamental issue that needs to be addressed in any reforms to the sector.
“In this light we note the announcement of a CCTV trial. We will continue to flag our concerns around the cost and risks of a CCTV rollout coming at the expense of sensible staffing decisions.
“It is great news that Education Ministers have asked the Early Childhood authority to examine ratios, which should include examining a staffing loophole used by providers called the ‘under the roof’ ratio.
“This loophole needs to be closed to address very real concerns about children’s wellbeing and safety.”