MEDIA RELEASE: Wage Increase for REED Staff
MEDIA RELEASE
13 September 2022
REED BOARD APPROVES ABOVE-AWARD WAGE INCREASES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE WORKERS IN REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Regional Early Education and Development Inc. (REED) is pleased to offer its valued Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Educators a wage increase above Award rates, as well as a salary sacrifice gap discount, effective from 1 October 2022.
REED is a not-for-profit organization offering a cluster model of management to provide Early Childhood Education and Care services across regional WA, working to reduce the burden on local Shires and volunteer committees to provide these vital community services. REED also provides robust professional development and a partnership with TAFE to encourage and support our staff in their training plan and career pathways.
Rural and regional areas find it difficult to attract and retain the necessary staff to meet quality standards for several reasons, including the low wages generally paid to early childhood Educators. In response to this, the Board has identified a strategy in the Strategic Plan 2021-2024 to provide incentive payments of above-award rates to support our dedicated and skilled workers.
REED has recorded profitable results since its inception and is able to offer this wage increase to staff earlier than expected, fulfilling our promise a year ahead of schedule. Kylie Helgesen, General Manager, states:
“ECEC Educators have been calling for recognition of the essential services that they provide in educating children and supporting the Australian economy. These Educators deserve to be respected and valued for their skills and contributions. We see this wage increase as a small step in the right direction, and we hope that the government will listen to calls from the sector and improve pay and conditions further.”
In addition, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment has introduced a new measure which allows a discount to be offered on the gap on an employee’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlement and the fee charged by the centre without affecting the employee’s CCS entitlement. REED is pleased to offer a 50% discount on the gap for REED staff, capped at $20 per session.
| Staff Qualification | Increase |
| Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care | 50 cents per hour |
| Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care | $1.00 per hour |
| Salary sacrifice gap discount | 50% discount on fee gap up to $20 per session |
REED values and supports its Early Childhood Education and Care workers, and this pay rise will benefit the staff who are so vital to providing high quality childcare services to their regional communities.
Kylie Helgesen is available for comment at admin@reedwa.org.au.