26,05,23 | Early childhood
Our union continues to ensure members’ voices are part of developing the Commonwealth Early Childhood Education Strategy. Federally our union is involved in developing the federal government’s Commonwealth Early Years Strategy, described as a “roadmap that sets out a...
20,02,23 | Early childhood, Member action
Our union has welcomed our members’ voices being heard at the recent National Early Years Summit in Canberra to develop the Commonwealth Early Years Strategy. Last month’s Summit was attended by a diverse range of industry stakeholders who participated in the...
01,11,22 | Early childhood, Union win, Workers' rights
The support of our union has helped secure significant redundancy payments for two members employed in the early childhood education sector. Earlier this year, an employer advised staff working at the Queensland kindergarten of a major workplace change: that they...
26,10,22 | Early childhood, School support staff, Teachers
The IEU has welcomed the federal government’s budget commitment to fund an additional 4,000 education university places as a $159 million dollar long-term investment in quality teaching and quality learning. IEU Federal Secretary Christine Cooper said the government’s...
22,08,22 | Early childhood, Professional issues
Our union continues to ensure our members are advocated for and their professional voices are heard at the highest possible levels. IEU Federal Secretary Christine Cooper recently met with the Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly and other stakeholders...
15,07,22 | Early childhood, Workers' rights
A Brisbane-based community kindergarten employer wants to freeze wages, cut redundancy provisions and exclude new admin staff from the centre’s new agreement altogether. It comes after our union warned members in the sector to be aware of underhanded attacks to...
16,03,22 | Early childhood, Workers' rights
IEU members in the early childhood education sector need to be on alert, after multiple employers have tried to, and in some cases succeeded in, removing important working rights from collective agreements, particularly redundancy payment provisions. IEU Organiser...
23,02,22 | Early childhood
IEU members have welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement today (Wednesday, 23 February) of significant kindergarten funding reforms and more than $1 billion in investment to the early childhood education sector over five years. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry...
23,02,22 | Early childhood, Member action, Union win, Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
An IEU member’s initiative and action at their kindergarten has solved a significant COVID-19 Work Health and Safety (WHS) issue. The Brisbane-based member realised that during the first few weeks of kindergarten returning this year, despite some COVID-19 safety...
02,12,21 | Early childhood
A new pedagogical approach, designed by researchers from Monash University, sheds light on how to effectively support young children’s maths learning through a play-based program. Early childhood education experts agree children should enter their formal schooling...
02,12,21 | Early childhood
Trigger warning: this article discusses body image and eating disorders in young children. We want young children to grow up with strong, active and happy bodies and minds, writes Bedrock journalist Jessica Willis. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in children and...
17,11,21 | Early childhood
Early childhood education experts and researchers agree: vocabulary development is considered foundational to young children’s language and literacy learning, journalist Emily Campbell writes. Typically, children enter formal schooling with an estimated vocabulary of...
14,10,21 | Early childhood, Member action, Union win
A kindergarten teacher member who recently joined our union after commencing a new job has received an increase in pay (and relevant back payment) thanks to an observant IEU officer. When processing the member’s application paperwork, our union’s membership department...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
As many IEU members will know, our union has been involved in consultations arranged by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) on the new National Workforce Strategy, set to be endorsed and published by the end of 2021. Journalist...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
There’s a need for more books featuring strength-based representations of people with a disability, journalist Emily Campbell writes. Children’s books are powerful tools which allow developing young minds to make sense of their own and others’ experiences and...
22,06,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
Journalist Emily Campbell explores a recent study by Monash University researchers into Parental Mental Illness and discusses strategies found to assist when working with children who have mentally ill parents. Parental Mental Illness (PMI) and the repercussions for...
12,05,21 | COVID-19, Early childhood, Workers' rights
The federal government’s $1.6 billion funding commitment for early childhood education over the next four years is a start, but more is required to secure the future of the sector. IEU-QNT Senior Industrial Officer John Spriggs said although the Budget contained some...
10,05,21 | Early childhood, Professional issues
Building trusted communication and collaboration between teachers, staff and families is essential in early childhood education – in fact, it is part of the National Quality Framework (NQF) due to its significant impact on children’s emotional and physical...
12,02,21 | Early childhood, Industrial advice
The federal government’s failure to address the future of Universal Access funding means Australia’s early childhood education (ECE) sector remains in a tenuous position. The Productivity Commission’s recently released Report on Government Services (ROGS) series...
20,10,20 | Early childhood
The current federal government has failed early childhood education students and sector employees alike leaving Universal Access funding completely out of the recent budget. This significant and worrying omission demonstrates the federal government’s blatant disregard...
01,08,20 | Early childhood
Members across the Early Childhood Education sector have renewed their campaign to Fund Our Future following the public release of the Universal Access National Partnership (UANP) final review report. IEUA-QNT Senior Industrial Officer John Spriggs said although...
01,05,20 | Early childhood, Teachers
A new early learning initiative to teach young children about cyber safety and digital technology use has launched, as part of a joint program developed by the Australian Federal Police, eSafety Commissioner, Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation and the...