The Day of Action rally in Martin Place, Sydney, held last week on behalf of the teachers and educators in community preschools in NSW.
Last week, the Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU), the union representing teachers in early child-hood education and care in NSW and the ACT, held a Day of Action rally on behalf of teachers and educators in community preschools in NSW. Up to 500 early childhood teachers and educators, parents, children and supporters dressed in pink and gathered at the top of Martin Place, opposite NSW Parliament House in Sydney to bring the fight for fair pay to the attention of politicians.
Gundagai Preschool staff wore pink to show solidarity with those marching on the steps of the NSW Parliament. As part of the IEU’s ‘Start Strong, Pay Fair’ campaign, the union and preschools are calling on the NSW Government to fund pay rises that properly value the work of preschool staff.
Stacey Smith, Director at Gundagai Preschool, said pay discrepancies between community preschools and government preschools are simply not fair.
“NSW community preschools are in crisis. Quality community preschools set the standard for early childhood education and care. They are three times more likely to be rated high quality than for-profit services, and they maintain low rates of safety breaches because they are staffed by professional and experienced teachers and managed by volunteer committees of parents who prioritise children’s education and safety, not profit.
“Yet despite this, community preschool teachers are paid up to 30% less than teachers in schools and NSW Department of Education Preschools, although they hold the same teaching degree and/or qualifications,” Stacey said.
“A teacher in a government preschool delivers the daily curriculum, yet teachers in community preschools, who are often the Nominated Supervisor, do a lot more than deliver the curriculum.”
“They are the nominated supervisors with legal responsibility; they manage staff, budgets, payroll, HR, develop policies, and procedures. They work with ever-changing volunteer committees and ensure high-quality education and safety every single day. They often do this for 30% less than their government-employed colleagues, and 15% less than those in Long Day Cares. It is simply not fair, and it undermines the quality of education that is provided in Community-Based Preschools.”
The NSW Labor Government and Premier Chris Minns have announced millions of dollars to fund community preschools to provide additional services that encourage preschools to change their current operational structure.
Under this new structure, community preschools will be encouraged to extend their operating hours, open more days, and expand the age range of children they serve. But Ms Smith says these models don’t align with typical community preschools’ business models.
“This approach is out of touch and ignores the voices of the community preschool sector. The long day care sector is in crisis — it’s been widely reported in the media — yet the current community pre-school model works. The proof is in the data. Community-based preschools are rated at high quality across the sector,” Stacey said.
“Community preschools are educational institutions, not care centres. The solution is clear – invest in the people who make community preschools high quality – the teachers and educators,” said Stacey.
“The NSW Government must fund our preschools to retain their highly skilled and valued teachers and educators, rather than forcing them into a model that undermines their work and compromises the early education of our pre-school children. If they do not fund pay parity for teachers and educators, these skilled teachers will leave community-based preschools. They simply are sick of doing the work they do for less,’ said Stacey.
Gundagai Preschool Committee President Lauren Eccleston said the value of community preschools needs to be recognised by funding them fairly.
“Changing the model is not the answer; funding pay parity is. Community preschools are an essential part of every community, and in regional towns like Gundagai, they are at the heart of it.” “Our educators are highly qualified, dedicated professionals who nurture and shape the next generation, yet they are paid significantly less than their peers in other early childhood settings and government schools. This isn’t fair, and it isn’t sustainable,” said Lauren.
“If we truly value early childhood education, we must invest in it properly. That means ensuring funding for pay parity so community preschools can continue to attract and retain the incredible teachers who make such a difference in our children’s lives.”
“The ‘Start Strong, Pay Fair’ campaign isn’t just about wages, it’s about fairness, sustainability, and the future of early learning in our communities. It’s time to recognise the value of our community preschools and fund them fairly,” said Lauren.
“Chris Minns and the NSW Labor government must listen. Community preschools are vital, our educators deserve funded pay parity, and our preschool demands fair funding,” said Ms Smith.
– Emily Flint
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