{"id":78429,"date":"2026-01-22T16:55:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T05:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/?page_id=78429"},"modified":"2026-02-13T09:13:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:13:52","slug":"ecec-log-of-claims","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/ecec-log-of-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"ECEC Log of Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Stand together and create a better future for ECEC<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEducators across the country are calling for big and ambitious changes to our working conditions. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Show your support for these changes by clicking here<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Multi Employer Agreement helped win a 15 per cent pay rise \u2013 now it\u2019s time to build on that.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The changes we want to see <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1. A fair wage increase \u2013 there\u2019s no going back! <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • We aren\u2019t going backwards – hold the 15% above the award.<\/li>
  • Increase ECEC wages by another 5% above the award in November 2026 and 5% above the award in November 2027.<\/li>
  • Lower gender undervaluation increases to be brought under the umbrella of higher ECEC wage increases.<\/li>
  • \u201cCost of living\u201d award increases in July each year must be paid (on top of ECEC wage increases).<\/li>
  • Move to a new classification structure outlined in the gender undervaluation timetable.<\/li>
  • No one left behind: staff who received no award increases through gender undervaluation (Early Childhood Teachers and support staff) to keep pace with the increases of everyone else.<\/li>
  • A new directors classification structure (not the Award \u201cone rate\u201d).<\/li>
  • Permanent wage increase – not an allowance!<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Background
    <\/strong>The Fair Work Commission\u2019s gender undervaluation decision is moving far too slowly and\u00a0fails to\u00a0include several key groups of workers. Without a firm commitment to extend the Worker\u00a0Retention\u00a0Payment, many workers could\u00a0actually go\u00a0backwards for seven months. The payment\u00a0ends in November 2026, while Award increases\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0take effect until June 2026.<\/p>

    Under the current proposal, most workers would see only a 17% to\u00a018% increase stretched out to 2029. That\u00a0timeframe\u00a0and\u00a0scale of the pay rise\u00a0is not good enough for a workforce that has waited too long already.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    2. Better ratios for children and educators <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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    • No Under\u00a0The\u00a0Roof Ratios.<\/li>
    • Consistent national ratios.<\/li>
    • No\u00a0additional\u00a0tasks (such as cleaning).<\/li>
    • Trainees\u00a0not\u00a0counted for ratios.<\/li>
    • Inclusion support- funded staff not counted for ratios.<\/li>
    • Ratios to take into account children with special needs.<\/li>
    • Details to be developed: essentially that according to level of additional need, children would attract a higher level of staffing.<\/li><\/ul>

      Background<\/strong>
      Current educator-to-child ratios don\u2019t consider whether children in a room have additional needs \u2014 or how many do. The Inclusion Support Program is underfunded, difficult to access, and prioritises children with a formal diagnosis, leaving many without support.<\/p>

      Educators report that in some rooms,\u00a0nearly half\u00a0the children show behavioural challenges, developmental delays, or significant disabilities. Without\u00a0additional\u00a0resourcing, children with higher needs\u00a0miss out on\u00a0the support they deserve, and other children receive less attention as educators are forced into reactive, crisis-driven care.<\/p>

      The impact on educators is profound. The surge in children needing\u00a0additional\u00a0support is fuelling burnout at the very moment the ECEC sector needs more staff, not fewer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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      3. Paid professional development to support our important work <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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      • Two days of paid professional development for all educators.<\/li>
      • Centres to be shut (equivalent to pupil-free days in schools) to enable\u00a0educators to access onsite\u00a0professional development\u00a0provided by the employer or\u00a0an accredited\u00a0external\u00a0professional development\u00a0provider.<\/li><\/ul>

        Background\u00a0<\/strong>
        Early Education is serious, meaningful work. The first five years of a child\u2019s life lay the foundation for everything that follows, and our educators play a vital role in shaping children\u2019s emotional, social, and educational development.<\/p>

        Professional development cannot be treated as an \u201cadd-on\u201d squeezed in at the end of a long day. For educators to truly grow, they need dedicated time\u2014full days where centres close, just as pupil-free days\u00a0operate\u00a0in schools. This gives teams the space to learn together on-site or to access high-quality external training, ensuring they can offer children the best possible start in life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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        4. Tackling wage theft in ECEC <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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        • Online industry information sessions for staff which Providers must book new staff into within two weeks of them starting employment to inform them of their rights and how they can claim unpaid wages\u00a0<\/li>
        • A clear process with timelines for staff to claim unpaid wages\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>

          Background<\/strong>\u00a0
          We know that wage theft is common across\u00a0the ECEC sector- whether it is staff not being compensated for\u00a0missing breaks, being classified incorrectly or (possibly the\u00a0most common) working extra hours without\u00a0being paid.\u00a0<\/p>

          Staff need to be informed about their rights\u00a0and to have a clear and accessible process\u00a0to claim money owed to them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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          5. Backing educators as they face new regulatory requirements, greater scrutiny and higher penalties. <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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          • Online industry information sessions for staff which Providers must book\u00a0new staff\u00a0into within two weeks of them starting employment.\u00a0<\/li>
          • Half an hour of\u00a0paid-time\u00a0at staff meetings in each centre once a year.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>

            Background<\/strong>\u00a0
            Every educator wants children to be safe and to receive the highest quality care.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why so many in our sector have welcomed the stronger regulation and increased scrutiny over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>

            But alongside these changes,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0seen a sharp rise in complaints and disciplinary actions. As a result, even dedicated, ethical, and long-standing educators are being swept into complex investigations. Many find themselves navigating a highly legalistic and intimidating system where the stakes\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0be higher\u2014not just their job,\u00a0but\u00a0\u00a0their\u00a0reputation\u00a0and their entire career are on the line.\u00a0<\/p>

            Educators deserve clear information about their rights, their responsibilities, and where to turn for support when facing allegations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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            6. Fair and adequate non-contact time for every educator <\/p><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t

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            Non-contact time should:<\/p>

            • Be increased beyond the current minimum.<\/li>
            • Be guaranteed for all educators, not just the responsible person for room planning.<\/li>
            • Reflect the real workload and compliance requirements placed on all educators.<\/li><\/ul>

              Background
              <\/strong>Educators need more non-contact time, and it must be shared fairly across the room.<\/p>

              Right now, guaranteed non-contact time is limited to the educator responsible for preparation, implementation and\/or evaluation of a developmental program. This doesn\u2019t reflect the reality of work requirements of a room. All educators are required to complete observations, documentation, assessments, reflections, and communication with families – \u202foften on top of their time in the room.<\/p>

              Two hours of non-contact time per week is not enough to meet the requirements of curriculum planning, supervision of indoor and outdoor environments, and the delivery of safe and effective pedagogy.<\/p>

              As a result, educators are regularly forced to complete essential work in their own time, stay back unpaid, or rush documentation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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              Support our claims here<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              In 2026, Educators will negotiate their pay and conditions through the Multi Employer Agreement. This is a sector-wide agreement currently covering 555 employers and 50,000 educators.<\/p>

              It\u2019s going to take educators standing together to win the big changes we want.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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              <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
              \n endorsements \n <\/div>\n
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