When does the VECTEA 2020 expire? What happens to the VECTEA 2020 after its nominal expiry date?
The Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement 2020 (VECTEA) and the agreements that mirror its terms and conditions reach their nominal expiry date on 30 September 2024.
The VECTEA 2020 will continue to operate past its nominal expiry date until its replacement agreement, the VECTEA 2024, is finalised and approved by the Fair Work Commission.
What happens to the VECTEA 2020 during the re-negotiation period?
During the negotiation period, the existing agreements, VECTEA 2020 and its ‘mirror’ agreements, VECA 2021, VEEA 2021, and VOTTEA 2023, will remain in effect.
Once the Fair Work Commission approves the new VECTEA 2024, which will include any new salaries and conditions, these agreements will be replaced by the new VECTEA 2024.
All employees who will be covered by the new VECTEA 2024, will have the opportunity to vote before the new agreement is approved.
What happens to VECTEA 2020 pay increases during the re-negotiation period?
The last scheduled salary increase under VECTEA 2020, along with its corresponding agreements, was in April 2024. During the re-negotiation period, current salaries established under VECTEA 2020 will continue to be in effect.
Future salary increases under a new VECTEA 2024 will take effect once the Fair Work Commission approves the new agreement.
ELAA will continue to release Wage Bulletins every July for the VECTEA 2020. During this period, salaries of certain VECTEA classifications may be updated in accordance with increases to the underpinning modern awards. However, this does not apply to all VECTEA classifications.
ELAA Members can access the ELAA Wage Bulletins on the ELAA website’s MyMembership portal here (a member login is required).
Which employees will the proposed VECTEA 2024 cover?
This proposed agreement will cover your education team, including nominated supervisors, educational leaders, early childhood teachers, and certificate III qualified (including Additional Assistants) and diploma-qualified educators who work to support the delivery of kindergarten programs including sessional kindergarten programs and kindergarten programs within integrated long day care services,.
How is the VECTEA funded?
The Victorian state government is responsible for funding, administering, and regulating kindergartens in Victoria. Kindergarten funding is provided per capita (per enrolled child) directly to the kindergarten provider through the Kindergarten Information Management System (KIMS). Under the Preschool Reform Agreement, which will be in effect until 2025, the Australian Government also contributes a certain amount per child to states and territories, forming part of the overall per capita state-based funding.
Approved providers under the VECTEA or approved equivalent agreements receive higher kindergarten funding rates than providers on the modern awards.
This beneficial EA funding for VECTEA employers includes higher per capita rates, teacher supplement rates to support experienced level 3 teacher salaries, and reimbursement for 16 weeks of paid parental leave for the primary caregiver. Currently, 387 ELAA members have signed up for the VECTEA 2024 and will continue to receive more beneficial kindergarten funding.
You can access a complete list of kindergarten funding rates for 2024 here: Kindergarten funding rates | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
For services that have opted into Free Kinder, the State Government of Victoria (Department of Education) provides 100 per cent of the kindergarten funding for providers. Refer to About Free Kinder—English | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au).
Why is there a VECTEA membership fee?
ELAA has been the employer representative body for the VECTEA (and its predecessor agreements) for over twenty years. We want to ensure that our members continue delivering high-quality education and care, are financially sustainable, and are building capacity and capability with resourced solutions.
Resourcing for the VECTEA is complex and involves:
- industrial relations expertise and advisory support
- Fair Work Commission applications and representation
- development of tailored implementation resources and guides
- engagement of a law firm for strategic expertise.
The VECTEA 2024 Signatory Benefits Package offered ELAA members a unique four-year opportunity to join VECTEA 2024. This one-time offer was open to single-site and multi-site providers in November 2023. It was available to both single-site providers and early years managers, with a one-time sign-up available in November 2023.
I am a VECTEA signatory, are my educators eligible for the 15% wage increase?
No. The VECTEA covers teachers and educators employed in state-funded kindergarten programs and does not cover CCS-funded employees.
ECEC workers who work in a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved service may be eligible to access the Federal Government’s ECEC Worker Retention Payment if they engage staff through a workplace instrument that meets grant conditions.
For more information, refer to Early childhood wages – Department of Education, Australian Government.
Is the VECTEA annual fee in addition to my ELAA membership?
The VECTEA 2024 Signatory Benefits Package offered ELAA members a one-time, unique, four-year opportunity to join the VECTEA 2024 agreement.
The VECTEA Signatory Benefits Package package is a required four-year subscription until 30 June 2027 (financial year 26/27), and it is paid in annual instalments during your membership renewal.
This means that ELAA members who sign up for the VECTEA 2024 must pay an annual fee to retain the benefits of their VECTEA signatory package. The annual VECTEA benefits package fee includes ELAA membership and other ELAA subscriptions or packages.
The fee structure is as follows:
- Year 1 (pro-rata): VECTEA 2024 sign-up application (November 2023)
- Year 2: 2024 membership renewal (June 2024)
- Year 3: 2025 membership renewal (June 2025)
- Year 4: 2026 membership renewal (June 2026)
Only centre-based Approved Services located in Victoria will be covered by the VECTEA 2024. Your annual VECTEA Signatory Package fee will be calculated each financial year based on this number (capped at six sites for multi-site providers).
What does my provider receive from the VECTEA Signatory Benefits Package?
As an ELAA member with the VECTEA Signatory Benefits Package, you’ll enjoy a range of exclusive benefits:-
- Confirm your place as a VECTEA 2024 employer signatory
- Receive an annual subscription to the IR Advisory Subscription for tailored HR/IR phone and email support as you need it
- Access VECTEA training for your People and Culture teams (available for multi-site providers only)
- Get nominated to the Industrial Relations Reference Group (EYM and multi-site providers only)
- Benefit from employment contract template reviews (ELAA contract templates only)
- Access comprehensive VECTEA implementation and support resources
Who can I contact if I have questions about the VECTEA process?
ELAA members can contact Member Solutions at (03) 9489 3500 (Press 2) between 10 am – 3 pm, Monday to Friday) or email us at membersolutions@elaa.org.au.
If you are an employee who is a member of a union, you can contact the following for further information:
Australian Education Union (AEU) – Victorian Branch
Employees may also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for further information at: Contact us – Fair Work Ombudsman.
I'm an ELAA member, how do I stay informed about changes to the VECTEA?
As an ELAA member, you can receive regular VECTEA updates through our weekly ELAAvate e-newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.
Further, when you renew your membership this year, we will also ask you to nominate a VECTEA 2024 contact who will receive important VECTEA-related correspondence via email.
We value our members’ input and would like to involve members in the bargaining process. During this period, we will engage and consult with ELAA members in our Industrial Relations Reference Group and relevant subcommittees.
Access a copy of the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement 2020 (VECTEA): FWC Version – VECTEA 2020 [2021] FWCA 3620 (PDF).
