Victoria reaches ‘in principle’ stage in early childhood enterprise agreements

An in-principle agreement has been reached on Victoria’s early childhood enterprise agreements, with Victorian Minister for Early Childhood, Ingrid Stitt, saying the decision is an important step towards “a better deal for early childhood teachers and educators.”

The proposed agreements deliver salary increases and improved career progression – recognising the importance of early childhood teachers and educators, with the aim to attract and retain a high-qualified and dedicated early childhood workforce. 

The Age has reported this morning that Victoria’s most senior early childhood teachers will earn more than school teachers under the new arrangements.

By 2024, The Age said, a full-time kindergarten teacher who enters the top pay bracket after seven years’ work will earn $116,906 every year, up from $103,838 currently, while diploma-qualified educators will receive a salary boost of almost $12,000.

The salary increases, of up to 31 per cent for kindergarten teachers and 27 per cent for educators and activity group leaders, will for the first time ensure parity between Victoria’s 7000 kindergarten workers and 46,500 public school teachers at every pay level.

A number of advocates for the sector were involved in working collaboratively to reach an acceptable arrangement, with the Municipal Association of Victoria, Early Learning Association Australia and the Australian Education Union all negotiating the agreements, which provide a range of benefits for employees. 

The next step in securing the agreement will be for an enterprise agreement employee ballot to take place, and for theFair Work Commission approval processes to take place. 

“This outcome recognises the hard-work of the early childhood workforce and supports services to continue to deliver high-quality early learning across Victoria,” Ms Stitt said, congratulating all  parties involved for reaching the outcome.”

A number of advocates for the sector were involved in working collaboratively to reach an acceptable arrangement, with the Municipal Association of Victoria, Early Learning Association Australia and the Australian Education Union all negotiating the agreements, which provide a range of benefits for employees. 

The next step in securing the agreement will be for an enterprise agreement employee ballot to take place, and for the Fair Work Commission approval processes to take place. 

“This outcome recognises the hard-work of the early childhood workforce and supports services to continue to deliver high-quality early learning across Victoria,” Ms Stitt said, congratulating all  parties involved for reaching the outcome.”

For more information, and to read The Age’s coverage in full, please see here.