The Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch has joined forces with a dynamic new campaign Thrive by Five, calling for a major overhaul of early childhood education.
Thrive by Five is led by former SA Premier Jay Weatherill and Nicole Forrest, Co-founder of the Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation of which Thrive by Five is a key initiative.
Thrive by Five is a non partisan campaign made up of significant figures in the community calling for quality learning for children aged 0-5.
Forrest and Weatherill addressed the Canberra Press Club today (17 February) to talk about the need for a holistic, prenatal to school, universally accessible, high quality early learning system.
Thrive by Five is aiming to create change that benefits parents, teachers, and most importantly, children. Thrive by Five believe the current system isn't working – fees are too high, centres are not resourced properly and teachers are undervalued and underpaid.
As campaign partners with Thrive by Five, the IEUA will ensure the status of teachers is at the forefront of any policy proposals.
IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam said good quality education is reliant on quality and stability in the teaching workforce.
"This can only be achieved by rewarding teachers as they deserve. Early childhood teachers have specialist qualifications at the same level, or sometimes higher, than their colleagues working in schools, yet they can be paid $30,000 a year less," Mr Northam said.
"Unless this is addressed, then it will be difficult to achieve the worthwhile goals Thrive by Five strives for."
IEUA is awaiting a decision on its landmark equal pay case for early childhood teachers now before the Fair Work Commission, which argues for school and early childhood teachers be paid at the same rate.
"During the COVID-19 lockdown, early childhood teachers were elevated to the status of essential workers. That status needs to be acknowledged through better pay and conditions now," Northam said.
