ACA maintains call for Australian Government to provide direct wage subsidy

The following text is lifted from an ACA Media Release - Wednesday 16th August 2023:​

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) supports the first ever application for a supported bargaining authorisation in the early learning sector and is hopeful that the Fair Work Commission (FWC) will grant the application in the coming weeks.

A FWC hearing will take place on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th August, to determine whether to authorise the application.

The application, if authorised, will enable multiple employers including a group of ACA member service providers, the United Workers Union and Federal Government to work together in negotiations for improving wages for the long day care sector.

The success of this negotiation will be largely dependent on a Federal Government commitment to provide funding for the negotiated outcome.

ACA President Paul Mondo said that the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector needs a significant wage increase to attract and retain more workers in a highly competitive labour market amid a critical workforce shortage across the country.

“Our educators and teachers are the heart of any centre, and it is vital they are supported at work and paid fairly. But our families are also struggling under the rising cost of living pressures and cannot afford to additional out-of-pocket costs passed on to them,” he said.

As the peak body for early learning (childcare) services, whose educators care for more than 850,000 families across Australia, ACA has consistently advocated for additional government support to help attract and retain more early learning educators, as the sector faces a critical national workforce shortage.

“Our shared mission is to ensure that that every child in Australia has the best start in life. There are two key factors for quality education and care to be available for every child — a workforce that is supported and paid fairly and a viable and sustainable sector,” Mr Mondo said.

ACA calls on the Federal Government to fund a wage increase by providing direct wage subsidies to early learning educators and to ensure this cost is not passed on to families.

“We look forward to working with the Australian Government and all other parties involved in the negotiation process, to ensure the best possible outcome for our early childhood educators, the early learning sector and Australia’s families with young children,” Mr Mondo concluded.

Media enquiries: ACA President, Mr Paul Mondo 0411 587 170 or ACA Vice President, Ms Nesha Hutchinson 0412 085 068