Watching an industry that I have had so much passion for, for the last 15 years crumble right in front of my eyes is heartbreaking. Early Childhood Education is falling and failing our future leaders of the world. The shortages in staffing that I have seen and experienced in the last few years as management is like no other. In the beginning it was our wages and that is still a huge issue, over governance, paperwork, under appreciation from upper management and company owners are only the tip of the iceberg. Last year we worked through the pandemic but were never deemed "essential" the government gave no support and even job keeper was taken from the industry so companies had no choice but to cut hours and let educators go. At the end of it all no matter how much sweat, tears, passion, love, sacrifice I have put into this industry, every company is the same.

No company ever puts you first, no company ever supports you and it's highlighted so much more through covid. It's time to take action and stop supporting companies who only see the dollar signs on top of all your children's heads. How is Australia one of the only Western countries with such high daily rates, low award for educators and no regulation of mistreatment for staff. 

So many department reports are dismissed or not even reported, serious incidents/accidents, children escaping etc and at the end of it all educators get the blame for all of this, but let's look at the bigger picture, how do you expect educators to work in these dire work conditions. We are under paid, under staffed, over worked, stressed, under appreciated by our governments and upper management/company owners and as a manager I'm sick of being their scape goats. I'm sick of implementing practices that go against my core beliefs as an early childhood educator.

It needs to be improved, changes need to be made and companies need to be held liable for the unethical treatment of their staff.

No over time, no full time contracts, our training is a joke, we get sick from all the germs the children bring in but are expected to work through it, budgets are low and resources are non existent, educators fork out their own money to purchase items to educate your children. So where is that money going from those high daily rates, it's not our wages and not the resources, it fills the pockets of the owners and company directors. 

If parents really knew what went on in all of the centres out there they wouldn't pay a cent to send their children to these supposed education institutions 

It's time for drastic change, change for the future leaders of tomorrow, change for my fellow educators who are tired, stressed, struggling to make ends meet and losing their passion for the amazing work they put into caring, loving and educating your children. 

We can't do it alone and need your help. I'm calling on the Department of Education, The Hon. James Merlino MP, The Early Childhood Education Union Reps and all of you, parents, grandparents, fellow educator's to help share this petition and spread the voice of many to fix what is so broken and support an industry that is failing us all. 

Here's a shout out to all of my fellow educators sticking it out, you are the real heroes, staying in an industry that is already so broken, for the passion you have for all of those little lives you are shaping, developing, sparking imaginatiom and moulding into our future leaders, please never forget how appreciated you all are no matter how badly you are treated at times, you've got this �

The childcare industry just lost another amazing educator