For children to Start Strong, the NSW Government must Pay Fair!
Since 2024, the IEU, along with our preschool ambassadors, Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) and the United Workers Union (UWU), have been engaged in supported bargaining with the NSW Government.
In late July 2025, the NSW Government sought to withdraw from the bargaining process. They rejected any role in assisting in the attainment of fair pay and conditions in the sector, through greater state-wide coordination and financial support.
On 15 October 2026, thousands of community preschool teachers, educators, parents and supporters rallied in Sydney, Lismore and Coffs Harbour. They demanded the NSW Government return to the table and take responsibility for community preschools.
In February 2026, the FWC issued a historic recommendation backing the IEU and community preschools. It said that the NSW Government should do everything it can to ensure community preschool teachers and educators are paid fairly.
In March 2026, Education Minister Prue Car said the government was reviewing funding, but no commitments were made for fair pay.
Ahead of the June 2026 state budget, community preschool teachers and educators took to the streets again, raising their voices. We need the NSW Government to work with us to find a way forward for NSW community-based preschools.
In May 2026, a NSW parliamentary inquiry recommended that the state government fully fund community preschools to deliver fair pay and conditions for teachers and educators.
Pressure is mounting on the NSW Government to fund fair pay in community preschools. Now more than ever, we need you standing by us in this pivotal push for change.
Funding for community preschools is solely derived from the NSW Government, with limited funding raised by parental fees and fund raising.
On average, over 80% of funding received by community preschools is spent on wages. Preschools do not receive any Commonwealth funding.
Lack of funding = Staff shortages
Despite having the same qualifications and roles, community preschool teachers earn up to 15% less than their colleagues in long day care and up to 30% less than those in primary schools. This difference is unsustainable for the health of the sector.
Right now, we are losing teachers and educators to schools, TAFE, long day care and NDIS, where they can earn significantly more. If this continues, many high-quality community preschools across NSW and the ACT will be forced to shut their doors due to a lack of quality staff.
What is supported bargaining?
The supported bargaining stream enables us to join the NSW Government as a party to the bargaining and address the systemic concerns with pay and conditions in our sector.
Our union, along with the United Workers Union, filed for a supported bargaining authorisation in the Fair Work Commission, with the support of the Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), who represent not-for-profit community-based preschools.
Campaign launch for Unite for Change – 9 April 2024
Supporting ECEC teachers is an investment in the future
It is widely accepted that high-quality early childhood education is crucial to brain development and fundamental to achieving lifelong learning outcomes. It lays a strong foundation for academic success as children progress through school and beyond.
Not only is about 97 per cent of the early childhood education workforce female, providing high-quality, affordable preschools assists women who have young children to re-enter the workforce.
“If preschool teachers were paid comparably to school teachers, they would be more likely to enter the sector and less likely to leave. Teachers, children, parents and the community at large only stand to gain from a strong preschool sector. We need to unite for change.”
IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews
The NSW government has already shown its commitment to teachers in schools by taking real action to address teacher shortages. In 2024, the federal government funded a 15% pay rise for long-day-care teachers and educators. Now it’s time to focus on the needs of our preschools. We urge the NSW government to step up and address the staff shortages caused by inadequate pay and conditions in community-based preschools.
Lodging the application for supported bargaining in the Fair Work Commission – 5 July 2024
Help us make a difference in NSW preschools – Join the IEU today!
