LANDMARK AGREEMENT SEES CHILDCARE WORKERS GET FREE TERTIARY STUDY AND SUPPORT
Approved centre staff at ABC Learning Centres will get free study and support for tertiary qualifications in a landmark agreement with the major childcare worker union, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU), it was announced today.
ABC Learning is the first major early childhood provider in Australia to make such an offer.
ABC Learning Global CEO Eddy Groves said the agreement was a major breakthrough for the early childhood profession in Australia and would ensure ABC centres remain the workplace of choice for early childhood workers.
"I am particularly proud of the offer to provide free study and support for tertiary qualifications as part of ABC Learning's commitment to raise the standards of early childhood centres across Australia," Mr Groves said.
"This initiative will ensure a higher standard and greater percentage of qualified early childhood workers in Australia and provide centre staff with a more defined and better paying career path."
Mr Groves said centre staff members had played a pivotal role in the success of ABC Learning and this agreement would encourage early childhood workers to remain in the profession at ABC centres.
"For parents, this means their children receive a greater continuity of care, something extremely important when choosing an early childhood provider," Mr Groves said.
LHMU National Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the agreement represents an important step towards professionalism in the childcare industry.
"The agreement means that the wage rates established in Work Value/Pay Equity cases last year will be applied on a national basis throughout ABC centres," Mr Lawrence said.
Under the agreement - one of the first Multiple Business Agreement (MBA) reached under the Work Choices legislation - centre staff, who are not already eligible for traineeships or apprenticeships, will be offered free study and support to complete a Certificate III, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Children's Services at the National Institute of Early Childhood Education (NIECE) depending on the requirements of the relevant legislation in each State or Territory.
The agreement also provides for free tuition fees for eligible centre staff for early childhood qualifications at the University of Southern Queensland.
Under the agreement, staff taking up the offer of free study and support are required to remain at an ABC Learning centre for 18 months after the completion of their course.
Other benefits in the agreement include:
7 free uniforms; 7 payment for certain allowances at approved providers, for example Senior First Aid and Epi- Pen training; 7 programming time in States where it is not already provided in the award; 7 Tasmanian wages in line with the higher Victorian rate; 7 WA wages per the new award; 7 external cleaners in all centres; 7 clearer provisions for part time working arrangements; and 7 guaranteed annual pay increases of 2 per cent per annum.
The agreement, incorporating new terms and conditions for childcare staff at ABC centres throughout Australia, will be voted on by centre personnel in November.
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