IMPROVED PAY AND CONDITIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS REQUIRED TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE CRISIS: THRIVE BY FIVE
24 May 2023 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative respects the vital work of early childhood educators and supports calls for the Federal Government to fund a wage increase for early childhood educators to help solve the current workforce crisis.
Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill said, “Early childhood educators are the cornerstone of delivering a universal, accessible and high-quality early learning system.
“Thrive by Five supports improved pay and conditions for early childhood educators, comparable to the salary and conditions of the school education sector.
“Australia’s early childhood workforce makes a positive impact on children and families and provides critical support for them through the early years.
“Thrive by Five has welcomed the Federal Government’s recent announcement for increased investment in skills development and training for early childhood educators, however, more must be done as educators continue to leave the sector due to poor pay and conditions and as a result children are missing out on vital education opportunities in the early years.
“Funding an immediate wage increase for all early childhood educators is critical if we are to solve the current workforce crisis gripping the early childhood education and care sector.
“Australian governments, ECEC service providers, unions and business leaders must work together to fund an increase in wages for early childhood educators without passing on the cost of the wage increase to families.”
“Early educators play an important and extremely important role in our society. By shaping young minds, they help secure our future prosperity,” he said.
