Early learning reform critical for women's economic security

Prominent female leaders are in Canberra today to call on the Federal Government to support women’s economic security and gender equity by implementing two key early learning reforms. Our media release

Prominent female leaders are in Canberra today to call on the Federal Government to support women’s economic security and gender equity by implementing two key early learning reforms.

 
Ahead of the upcoming federal budget, CEO of The Parenthood Georgie Dent, Independent MP Zoe Daniel, CEO of Early Childhood Australia Sam Page, former ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell, Deputy Chair of Goodstart Early Learning Natalie Walker and former president of Chief Executive Women, Sue Morphett are asking the government to;

● Fund a 25% pay rise for early childhood educators, who are experiencing the highest number of workforce vacancies on record, and
● Remove the widely criticised child care subsidy eligibility system, known as the ‘Activity Test’

Ms Dent said these changes are critical steps on the path towards a truly universal early childhood education and care system.

“Funding a 25% pay rise for early childhood educators and removing the Activity Test would be transformative for women’s economic security; women comprise the vast majority of early childhood educators and it’s the workforce participation of women that is mostly limited by the Activity Test,” said Ms Dent.

“Around 90% of early childhood educators are female and they have been undervalued and underpaid for far too long, with some earning as little as $23 an hour – that’s less than an apprentice bricklayer.

“This is despite many having tertiary qualifications, their work being critically valuable for child development and education and the essential nature of their work. Their influence on the life trajectory of children is immense – and their wages should reflect that.”

Ongoing negotiations indicate that a government-funded pay rise is on the cards for early childhood educators.

Gender equity and early learning campaigners equally want to see the Activity Test removed. The test calculates how much childcare subsidy parents receive based on how many hours they work, and has been described as ‘punitive’ for many years for failing to provide childcare support to parents who aren’t employed in full time work.

“The Activity Test is a deeply flawed policy and desperately needs reform. It was meant to incentivise work but in reality parents who don’t have a shift or a job cannot afford the out of pocket cost for early education and care, but if they don’t have suitable care lined up, they cannot take a shift or find work.”

“It’s particularly difficult for parents who work casually or part-time, who are more likely to be women, and they end up receiving less or no subsidy.” Other groups who are more likely to miss out on childcare subsidy include low-income and First Nations families.

“An estimated 160,000 children from low-income households suffer the impact as a ‘double whammy’; they miss out on early education and their parents miss out on being able to earn an income. It’s a deeply flawed policy.

“The government needs to support women in the upcoming federal budget by funding an early childhood educator wage rise, and getting rid of the Activity Test. The flow-on impacts of both reforms would be profound,” said Ms Dent.