Oct
30
ELAA Joins Sector Partners in Call for Amended Jobs for Families Child Care Package
ELAA has joined 20 other early learning sector organisations in writing to Greens and cross-bench Senators urging them to support an amended version of the Federal Government’sJobs for Familieschild care assistance package.
The letters underline cross-sectoral support for many aspects of the proposed child care assistance package, including:
- increased investment in early learning
- streamlining of current subsidies (Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate)
- child Care Safety Net programs for children with additional needs.
However, the sector is also calling for amendments to the package to better reflect the benefits for children of quality early learning:
- an increased base entitlement of subsidised hours and a raised income threshold for the base entitlement
- an increased base entitlement to subsidised hours specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and a specialised program to support otherwise unviable services
- activity test and subsidy approval processes that are flexible to accommodate the needs of families.
The letters also state that the package should not be conditional on the Government making savings from proposed cuts to Family Tax Benefits that would adversely impact disadvantaged families.
The Jobs for Families legislation was reintroduced to Parliament in September and is expected to be before the Senate very soon.
Oct
27
Sep
09
ELAA CEO’s Group receives response from Federal Minister on ‘15 Hours’
ELAA has received the attached response from Minister Birmingham in response to our letter of 29 November regarding the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education beyond the current agreement’s expiry on 31 December 2017. The Minister has also requested that we share his response with all those members and supporters who have signed our petition to Keep funding 15 hours .
We will be looking to meet with the Minister early in the New Year to discuss this important issue further.
While we are delighted that the Minister reiterates the Turnbull Government’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to quality early learning and care, we are concerned that the Commonwealth contribution to preschool funding through the National Partnership Agreement is described as having only ever been a “top-up” contribution. This is not ELAA’s view. We regard this funding as both critical to ensuring 15 hours of quality early learning for every child in the year before school, and an important demonstration of the shared commitment by all Australian Governments to the longer-term economic and social benefits of investment in early learning.
Response from Minister Birmingham
Shane Lucas, CEO
Jun
24
Caring for Kids Raffle – Drawn 24 June 2016
1st Prize – Ticket 000287
2nd Prize – Ticket 005884
3rd Prize – Ticket 040540
4th Prize – Ticket 046160
Jun
22
VECTEA 2016 Approved
The Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement 2016 (VECTEA 2016) was approved by the Fair Work Commission earlier today 22 June 2016.
The new Agreement will operate from 29 June 2016, replacing the VECTAA 2009.
To support ELAA members in this process, we have developed materials and tools which are available on the Member Section of the ELAA website.
The full Agreement along with a Summary Document detailing the key differences between the old and new agreements is available below.
The Summary Document highlights a number of significant changes which services will be required to implement by 29 June 2016.
To help members in this regard, ELAA has developed a number of resources including:
The VECTEA 2016 Implementation Kit which can be found in the Services and Resources section on the ELAA website. Members will need to log in using their password to access the kit and supporting documents. This should be read in conjunction with the Preparing to Implement VECTEA Kit which can also be found in the Services and Resources section of the ELAA website.
· VECTEA 2016 Implementation Webinars – available from the Services and Resources section on the ELAA website. Follow the drop down menu and then select ELAA Webinars
Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ELAA Member Services Team on 03 9489 3500 or toll free on 1300 730 119. You may also email your query to elaa@elaa.org.au
Jun
20
Keep funding 15 hours …. hear what the sector says
Early Learning Association Australia recently asked early childhood educators, service providers, and thought leaders about the need to fund 15 hours of preschool for 40 weeks in the year before school.
Listen to their insightful views in the videos below.
Jun
06
May
26
May
16
VECTEA 2016 Update – Application filed with Fair Work Commission
On 22 April 2016, ELAA and the Australian Education Union declared the result of the ballot for the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. A resounding 95% of eligible early childhood teachers and educators voted “YES” to endorse the new agreement.
This is a fantastic result and reflects an enormous amount of hard work by ELAA and the AEU to deliver a simplified, user-friendly agreement that addresses the principal concerns of all parties – salaries, workloads and flexibility – and that is easy for managers and staff to interpret and apply in the workplace.
On 6 May, on behalf of 405 organisations, ELAA submitted an application for approval of the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement (VECTEA) 2016 to the Fair Work Commission. The Commission will now take between 4 and 12 weeks to consider the agreement. The Agreement will take effect seven days after the date of Certification.
As your bargaining agent in the negotiations for a new agreement, ELAA is obliged to provide you with a copy of the application, which is available for download on the ELAA website in Latest News.
ELAA will continue to keep you updated regarding the progress of the application. We are also developing an implementation kit and a number of online resources to support members to implement the new agreement.
Please do not hesitate to contact us on 03 9489 3500 and speak to a Member Services officer if you have any questions in relation to the proposed agreement.
