16 APRIL 2025: FAIR WORK COMMISSION DECIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS' WAGES TO BE INCREASED BY 9.4% TO 27.8%

On 16 April 2025, the Fair Work Commission released its (provisional) decision following its consideration of gender undervaluation in five Awards (including Children's Services Awards for early childhood education and care educators). This transition to the new wage rates will commence on 1 August 2025 with a minimum of 5%, with additional increases each year for up to 5 years. Hence, to ensure families do not bear the costs, the funding arrangement will need to be updated. READ MORE

8 APRIL 2025: NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO JUSTIFY HIGHER ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
UNLESS SHAKESPEARE & CHAUCER ARE REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN BIRTH TO 5 YEARS OLD

Under GIPA, the NSW Department of Education has no documents to justify the higher English proficiency requirements for overseas-trained early childhood teachers. Even the English proficiency testing organisation's own data shows that more than two-thirds of native English speakers have been unable to achieve the requirement. READ MORE

7 APRIL 2025: FOR EXISTING EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES ALREADY MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS, THERE IS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEM TO BE DOWNGRADED THAN UPGRADED

Since 2018, early childhood services whose quality rating is Meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standards, has a 1.88%-10.79% probability of being upgraded to a higher quality rating, compared to 13.87%-18.09% probability of being downgraded to a lower quality rating. READ MORE

22 MARCH 2025: NSW DEPUTY PREMIER CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

After 5 consecutive years of unbelievable levels of breaches by NSW early childhood education and care services (ie more than the rest of the nation combined), the NSW Deputy Premier has appointed former NSW Deputy Ombudsman Chris Wheeler to independently review the NSW Department of Education as the NSW Regulatory Authority. READ MORE

28 FEBRUARY 2025: ADVANCING CHILD PROTECTION CONCERNS WITH FEDERAL ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Following Australia's worst paedophile (with 1,623 charges of sexual assaults against 91 girls), ACA NSW continues to seek answers to ensure child safety for all children, while also addressing the Royal Commission's recommendation of at least 45 years of record keeping. READ MORE

12 FEBRUARY 2025: 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF RECORD BREACHES RECORDED FOR NSW-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES

For the fifth (5th) year, NSW has recorded a new record with the number of breaches more than all of the other Australian states and territories combined. Yet the national regulator says "91% of services with a quality rating are Meeting National Quality Standards or above". Confused? READ MORE

27 FEBRUARY 2025: IF NSW SCHOOLS' ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TOOL CAN REDUCE TEACHER WORKLOAD, CAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS USE IT TOO?

In the NSW Deputy Premier's own words, "'Please help me with a risk assessment.' It will spit something out that you can use instead of you having to spend hours doing that." So, when can NSW's early childhood educators use this too? READ MORE

TO ACHIEVE (CHILDCARE) FEE AFFORDABILITY FOR PARENTS, CAN NSW PAYROLL TAX BE RETURNED?

With $15.4 billion of NSW Payroll Taxes expected by FY2027/2028 as well as early childhood education and care services paying more NSW Payroll Taxes due to the Federal Government's $3.6 billion grants to increase early childhood educators and teachers pay, could some be returned? READ MORE