Long day care workers in the Hunter set to receive 15% pay increase

BY OLIVIA GOELDNER

After significant efforts from the Independent Education Union, long day care workers in the Hunter are set to be awarded a 15% pay increase. 

Under the current award, full-time long day care workers are being paid $93,000 a year, but with the increase it will be bumped up to over $107,000. 

The federal government is set to invest $3.6 billion dollars into the increase, with pays to jump up by 10% in December, and 5% a year later. 

The union also welcomed the proposed 4.4% cap on fee increases for parents over the next 12 months. 

Carol Matthews from the union says the pay rise is aiming to boost workforce attraction and retention. 

"The rate of pay at the moment, is well under that of teachers in schools. 

"The conditions are pretty demanding, both the nature of the work and other conditions that go along with it. that has led to a real shortage of teachers and services are finding it really hard to fill those positions." 

Additional laws being requested by the union aim to address the long-term failure to properly value work in feminised sectors including early childhood education and care. 

"It's not an accident that female dominated areas are being paid less than those with less women, so it's a great move. We know there is more work to do, but this is a great first step."

Discussions are currently being made between the union and the federal government as to how the funding will be distributed. 

Catholic Diocese To Open More Long Day Care Centres

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is planning to overcome the current struggle to keep up with demand for long day care centres in the area.

With five centres already up and running, they are looking to expand to twenty over the next five years.

Diocese CEO Sean Scanlon says there are plans all for the whole region.

"We've got a number of sites already ear-marked, we've got development applications approved, we've got agreements to take over some existing centres so whilst it's optimistic, or perhaps even ambitious, it's probably not outside the realms of possibility," he says.

"We've got plans to be in Raymond Terrace at the beginning of next year, we'll be in Maitland where we're also setting up a training centre so we can train staff. Gillieston Heights will be following that as well as Muswellbrook, Scone, and the expansion of our existing centre in Newcastle West, so we're looking to be across the region."

The new plans come after three centres were opened this year in Chisholm, Cardiff and Lochinvar.