March 2026
Welcome to ECEC Extra, the newsletter for IEU members in the early childhood education and care sector.
As the Start Strong Pay Fair campaign ramps up, we’re preparing to take action again for community preschools. You can find all the resources you need for Wear Pink Day (Wednesday 18 March) and the Day of Action rally (Wednesday 6 May) here.
In this edition:
- Read about IEU members from community preschools making their presence felt at Budget Estimates.
- Hear from Margaret Gleeson, the director of a small community preschool.
- Learn how the IEU is calling on the federal government to lock in pay rises for staff in long day care.
- Find out why reforms to stop employers gaming the rules about staffing ratios are a crucial step towards improving child safety.
Help us fight for fairer pay and improved working conditions in the early childhood sector. Forward this email to your colleagues and invite them to join the IEU.
Carol Matthews,
IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary


