Advocacy

ECA NSW branch gets politicians on board in early learning forum

Freya Lucas

Nov 16, 2022

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Recognising the urgent need to advocate for systemic change and greater support for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, the New South Wales Central Coast branch of Early Childhood Australia (ECA) recently invited local politicians to a meeting.

Liesl Tesch (NSW Labor) Adam Crouch (NSW Liberal) and Dr Gordon Reid (Federal Labor) all attended, and were receptive to the message from members that urgent action is required to address the chronic lack of staff available to work in early learning services on the Central Coast.

“This is not an isolated issue” ECA member Nada Potter shared, speaking from Highland Grove Preschool, “but one that extends across the country and can only be addressed by radical improvement in the working conditions and pay rates of those in the sector”.

The early learning specialists who attended the meeting agreed that the sector offers rewarding careers to many, but systemic issues continue to plague the recruitment and retention of early childhood educators.

Attendees said they felt “heartened” by the presence of the politicians who were “keen to note the concerns of the group” and brainstorm possible ways forward.

Group members said the emphasis in the media and from some politicians on “cheaper childcare” and “workforce participation” needed to change so that children are put at the heart of every decision that is made that concerns them.To learn more about the branch committees offered by ECA, please see here.

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