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23.01.2022 Have you registered for the NEW Big Steps Professional Learning courses yet? Applications for the EXCLUSIVE Professional Communication in Early Childhood Education Program are closing soon! This online course run by Jennifer Ribarovski is a great way to add to your professional development! Places are filling fast, so register for this member-exclusive opportunity today: ... https://bigsteps.org.au/professional-communication See more

21.01.2022 Have you registered for the NEW Big Steps Professional Learning courses yet? Applications for the Wellness Mentorship Program are closing soon! Places are filling fast, so register for this member-exclusive opportunity today: ... https://bigsteps.org.au/wellness-mentorship-program See more

20.01.2022 Tune into Early Educators United TONIGHT for a special LIVE event: What's Next for Educators in Victoria? Hear from UWU members in Victoria, UWU Industrial Officer Laura, and Sandi and Chris Phoenix from Phoenix Support about what YOU can do to prepare for the return of children and families on September 28. Register for the event here: ... www.facebook.com/events/3293030887482065 See more

17.01.2022 Have you registered for the Thrive by Five online forum on Thursday? There's still time! This week's special event IT’S TIME TO THRIVE BY FIVE AN EDUCATOR FORUM is for educators, by educators. Don't miss out - register now!

17.01.2022 The upcoming Federal Budget must prioritise investment in Australia’s broken early learning system to ensure families, and the broader economy, emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in better shape, according to Jay Weatherill, CEO of Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative. Tomorrow’s forum will bring together Mr Weatherill, along with core union representatives from both the United Workers Union and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and sector activist and con...sultant Lisa Bryant. United Workers Union ECEC Director Helen Gibbons said, Educators have always been at the forefront of improving our sector, and Thrive by Five is an opportunity to shape the sector that we want to see into the future. Educator stories must be heard to highlight the failures of the current system. This is a chance for educators to come together to share our lived experience, explore this exciting new campaign and plan how educators can contribute their ideas, skills and passion to build the momentum for change. A forum led by educators, for educators.

15.01.2022 Your Union has launched a NEW range of online development courses as part of the Big Steps Professional Learning Program! With topics covering leadership in early childhood education, specialised wellness and wellbeing skills for educators, reconciliation, and more - don’t miss out! Register NOW to start your journey with Big Steps Professional Learning!... https://bigsteps.org.au/professional-learning See more

15.01.2022 The lockdown announced today by the Marshall Government has come as a shock to many workers and families. Every day workers in ECEC are providing quality education and care to children under difficult and changing circumstances, and South Australian educators are now facing even more uncertainty. UWU officials have already begun reaching out to relevant SA Government authorities and employers to find out what this means for members in early education. From successfully worki...ng with members, government authorities and other stakeholders in the sector through the Victorian lockdowns, we know that robust guidelines around health and hygiene are needed in services to protect staff, children and families, and that government support for workers who might be affected by the lockdown measures is just as crucial in SA. To find out the most up-to-date information from your union office, to learn from Victorian educators about staying safe and protecting your rights, members in SA are invited to join a FB Live tomorrow at 5:30pm SA time. Register for the event here: www.facebook.com/events/1660689480785782

15.01.2022 Amazing achievement by Two Wells Community Children's Centre - a proud 100% UNION CENTRE! Educators at Two Wells are celebrating this exciting next step in their union journey!

11.01.2022 Have you registered for the NEW Big Steps Professional Learning courses yet? If you’re ready to grow as a Centre Leader, register for the Semann and Slattery Leadership Program TODAY! Places are filling fast for this member-exclusive opportunity! Check it out here ... https://bigsteps.org.au/semann-slattery-leadership-program See more

10.01.2022 Investing in the ECEC sector makes sense for educators, children and the economy. Recent analysis by the Grattan Institute shows that an additional annual investment of $5 billion in the childcare subsidy scheme would boost GDP by about $11 billion each year through increased workforce participation of parents mostly mothers. KPMG modelling shows the Australian economy receives $2 for every $1 invested in high-quality care over a child’s life, due to increased labour force supply, the productivity boost delivered by a more educated workforce, increased tax collected, improved health, and reduced expenditure on remedial social services.

08.01.2022 United Workers Union Bargaining representatives have WON a major change of policy at Queensland Goodstart Centres! In Queensland, regulations allow ratios to drop during designated rest periods, meaning one educator can be left alone with over 20 children. This ratio can put extreme pressure on educator wellbeing and quality of education and care. Members at Goodstart raised serious concerns about this ratio with their bargaining representatives, who advocated strongly around... this issue with Goodstart management. And United Workers Union members WON! I stand here so proud of all the United Workers Union members who fought long and hard to achieve this change in policy from Goodstart. This is a huge win! Removing the unreasonable rest period ratios is a crucial step forward in recognising the importance of the educator to child relationship. I thank each and every United Workers Union member for standing together to help achieve this win. If you're a Queensland educator and your Centre still uses this regulation, speak to your workmates and Union representatives about advocating for change. -Samira, QLD educator

05.01.2022 It's crucial that early childhood educators like us are a part of shaping this campaign. That’s why I encourage all my fellow early childhood educators out there to register and join me at the forum TONIGHT! See you there!... There’s still time! Register for IT’S TIME TO THRIVE BY FIVE AN EDUCATOR FORUM here: http://bit.ly/tb5uwuforum

04.01.2022 For every educator who needs to see this today.

03.01.2022 Big Steps leaders came together last night to discuss Reconciliation in early education through Big Steps Professional Learning. "I'm proud that Big Steps is being part of the conversation, and prioritising this conversation with educators to support our jarjums. It's up to us, and not just us Goori educators, to take action to break the intergenerational trauma that my people experience everyday, and it's allies like the people on this call tonight that will help make that c...hange." - Lisa Walker, NSW, a proud Galibal woman on Bundjalung Land. "The time for us to take action, without apologies is now. We need to TRY. We need to START. We need to ACTIVATE our communities." - Kate Elford, NSW, on Gadigal Land. "We need to commit that this is the start, that this is where the conversation begins, and that we continue to advocate for our First Nations people as educators, and as unionists." - Kerrie Devir, VIC, on Woirorung Land. "I'm committed, and believe we really need to do more work to unpack First Nations trauma, to improve the outcomes of children, and that it's something we can work on together with our union." - Carolyn Minchin, ACT, on Ngunnawal Land. "The biggest thing I have learned is to begin - and be brave. To have conversations which are difficult as a white Australian - to unlearn, learn and relearn the truth about our local and national First Nations peoples. We need to unpack our privilege, and use it to win true equality for our First Nations people." - Anne Lehwood, SA, on Peramangk and Kaurna Land. "It's been a journey to learn and get to know more about First Nations culture. Coming from the UK, this is all new to me. I'm learning that First Nations culture is everywhere, and I'm nervous, but excited to be leading my centre's RAP and to share what I learn with others!" - Zoe Helliwell, QLD, on Gubbi Gubbi Land. Want to know more? Join these dedicated unionists next Thursday for a special Livestream on Early Educators United!

03.01.2022 CALLING ALL SA EDUCATORS! SPECIAL LIVESTREAM AT 5:30pm TONIGHT SA TIME! The lockdown announced yesterday by the Marshall Government has come as a shock to many workers and families. Every day workers in ECEC are providing quality education and care to children under difficult and changing circumstances, and South Australian educators are now facing even more uncertainty.... UWU officials are continuing to reach out to have already begun reaching out to relevant SA Government authorities and employers to find out what this means for members in early education. From successfully working with members, government authorities and other stakeholders in the sector through the Victorian lockdowns, we know that robust guidelines around health and hygiene are needed in services to protect staff, children and families, and that government support for workers who might be affected by the lockdown measures is just as crucial in SA. To find out the most up-to-date information from your union office, to learn from Victorian educators about staying safe and protecting your rights, members in SA are invited to join a FB Live tonight at 5:30pm SA time. Click here to join Early Educators United NOW to access this vital livestream - https://www.facebook.com/groups/EarlyEducatorsUnited.

03.01.2022 Big Steps is proud to bring YOU the first Thrive by Five educator forum! This is a forum led by educators, for educators! As the experts, it's vital that educators’ voices shape the Thrive by Five campaign! REGISTER for the event here: https://thrivebyfive.org.au/actions/uwuforum... And make sure to follow Early Educators United for exciting updates!

01.01.2022 UNION UPDATE: ECEC RECOVERY PACKAGE Educators in Victoria have faced immense challenges throughout Stage 4 restrictions, without the support from the Federal Government they needed. United Workers Union members in ECEC have lobbied, signed petitions, met with politicians, and spoken out in the media.... Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has now announced a new $305 million Recovery funding package for ECEC in Victoria, which will effectively extend the current 25% transitional funding from the end of September to the end of January. This Recovery Package will include a 25% recovery payment of pre-COVID revenue paid to Victorian services, until January 31, 2021. Fees will be frozen for families until January 21 2021. This is not the wage guarantee that educators have called for. But this announcement will mean a bit more certainty for educators over the next few months. It is vital that this funding is used to support the extra resources and safety measures that are needed to keep educators, children and families safe. This includes extra staff for cleaning, pre-entry screening and temperature checks. By campaigning for more support from the Federal Government for Victorian educators, Big Steps members have won crucial financial support to help the Victorian ECEC sector recover from this pandemic. If you believe your employer is not adhering to the guidelines, make sure to contact your local Union Office here: www.unitedworkers.org.au/contact For more information, head to the Recovery Package website here: www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/childcare/recovery-package

01.01.2022 "I just feel like we have been left behind and we are not valued, and it has taken a mental toll on myself and I know it has for my colleagues." Educators deserve a wage guarantee!

01.01.2022 Congratulations to Big Steps leader Maharukh Sattha! Maharukh joined her Union in 2011 and soon realised that in order for things to change, Educators had to stand proudly together to create a strong voice for their profession. Maharukh stepped up as a leader, and since then has inspired others to stand strong and take action. Maharukh has represented her fellow educators in Canberra, lobbied politicians about equal pay, told her story in national forums and recently on tele...vision in the ACTU For the Workers campaign. Maharukh has led her Centre to 100% Union membership, and helps educators understand the importance of standing together to achieve real change. She is now taking the next step in her journey by mentoring other leaders in the sector. Big Steps is proud to announce that Maharukh’s dedication was recently recognised by the Queensland Council of Unions, when she was announced as a recipient of the Emma Miller Award. Three words to describe Maharukh? Strength, Courage and Determination.