NSW community preschools are under threat.
The announcement of Universal Preschool Funding guidelines has escalated fear and uncertainty for community preschools as many face significant decreases to their funding under the new model.
Without urgent action, it will be impossible for services to maintain fair pay for staff, deliver quality education, provide safe learning environments, or even keep their doors open.
This is unacceptable.
The IEU shares your frustration and disappointment at the NSW government’s failure to commit the funding necessary to secure the future of community preschools, despite the recommendation by the Fair Work Commission that the government take all possible steps to ensure adequate funding is available.
With the NSW state election approaching, we have an important opportunity to make sure local MPs understand just how much their communities need and value community preschools.
We must send a clear message that families, staff and management committees expect the NSW Government to provide the funding necessary to secure their future.
What does ‘Universal’ Preschool Funding mean for your preschool?
DOWNLOAD, FILL IN AND SHARE!
Download, print and complete the “What ‘Universal’ Preschool Funding means for us” poster. Share photos of your poster on your preschool’s social media pages. Tag your local MP, Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Car. Don’t forget to tag the IEU and the Start Strong Pay Fair campaign.
Write to your local MP
Write to your local MP and explain how much funding your preschool will lose and what this will mean for the children and families who rely on your service.
Join a rally to save community preschools
Join preschool staff, families, management committees and supporters at one of three local rallies and help put community preschool funding on the election agenda.
Hunter Valley Rally: Thursday 29 October, 9am to 9:30am
📍 Office of Clayton Barr MP, 118 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Northern Rivers Rally: Thursday 29 October, 9am – 9:30am
📍 Office of Janelle Saffin MP 55 Carrington Street, Lismore
Western Sydney Rally: Friday 30 October 9am-9:30am
📍 Office of Prue Car MP, Deputy Premier, Londonderry Electorate Office, 154 Queen Street, St Marys
3 ways you can support a rally
We are asking services to support the rally in one of three ways:
- Local services – close your preschool and bring your community
For services located close to the electorate office, particularly those within the electorate, we are asking you to close your preschool for duration of the rally and encourage all staff, families and management committee members to attend.
- Other nearby services – send representatives
We recognise that some services will not be able to close completely and ask all families to travel. In these circumstances, we request that you arrange for representatives of staff, management committees and families to attend.
- Distant services
If you are unable to access a rally but would like assistance lobbying your MP, please contact the IEU.
Every service represented will strengthen our message that this is not an isolated problem, but one affecting community preschools across NSW.
The future of community preschools must be an election issue.
Our communities value the high quality and safe education and care that community preschools provide. They value the dedicated teachers and educators who make that possible. They do not want to see their local preschools close because the NSW Government has failed to provide adequate funding to ensure the viability of community preschools.
We urge every community preschool to be represented at the upcoming rallies.
