The NSW Government must fund pay rises for community preschools
Funding for community preschools, as not-for-profit services, is almost solely derived from the NSW Government. They have rejected our request for increased funding for wages for teachers and educators after months of bargaining.
We need the NSW government to stand with community preschools and pay their teachers and educators what they deserve
SAVE THE DATE: Day of Action 15 October
The IEU, with the endorsement of Preschool teachers across NSW, has called for a day of action across NSW preschools on 15 October. This will involve a day of action rally at NSW Parliament House, and media events in preschools across the state.
Save the date and follow us on facebook or instagram to stay updated on how you and your preschool can get involved.
NSW community preschools are in crisis
Community Preschools are not-for-profit services dedicated to inclusive early childhood education and care. They cater to all children, including children from backgrounds of economic disadvantage and children with additional needs.
Currently, they are facing a workforce exodus.
Poor pay and conditions have meant that community preschools have struggled to attract new staff to their services and are losing staff to other sectors.
Community Preschool teachers and educators are drowning under increasing workloads, and intense pressure to maintain a high standard of care.
This can’t go on.
We need fair pay for community preschool teachers now.
Quality
Community preschools set the standard for early childhood education and care, and are three times more likely to be rated high-quality than for-profit services.
Safety
Community preschools are managed by volunteer committees of mums and dads whose only priorities are children’s education and safety – not profit
Pay
Community preschool teachers and educators are paid up to 30% less than teachers and educators in schools with the same qualifications and roles
We call on the NSW government to fund community preschools fairly.
Campaign Updates:
10 September 2025: Media Release: Community Preschools in crisis – Union demands action from NSW Government
18 August 2025: Urgent Call – Stand with community preschools
7 August 2025: Supported bargaining update
1 July 2025: Supported bargaining update
7 May, 2025: Supported bargaining update
2 April, 2025: Supported bargaining update
13 March, 2025: Supported bargaining update
30 October, 2024: Log of claims before the Fair Work Commission
30 September, 2024: Fair Work Commission issues Supported Bargaining Authorisation
23 September, 2024: Media Release – Fair Work Commission authorises bargaining for staff in over 100 preschools
9 September, 2024: ECEC Extra – Historic bid for better preschool pay
27 July, 2024: IEU lodges application for supported bargaining
4 July, 2024: Media Alert – Union files revolutionary pay-rise application for staff in over 100 preschools
9 April, 2024: IEU Preschools Campaign – Unite for Change
8 April, 2024: Media Release – IEU launches pay rise campaign for preschools
Community preschools set the standard for high-quality early childhood education and care
Community preschools provide high-quality early education and care. Around 75% of community-based preschools are rated as exceeding in the National Quality Standards (NQS ratings), compared to around 25% of all early childhood education and care services (predominantly long day care services).
They are the benchmark for ECEC services.
Why community preschools matter
There are around 710 community preschools across NSW, ranging from metropolitan areas to remote and rural regions.
Community preschools are managed by volunteer parent management committees and are 100% not-for-profit.
They provide a vital service to educate and care for children aged three to five years, their families and communities. These are the critical years before children commence primary school. The difference access to safe, high-quality early childhood education can make to a child’s educational development and wellbeing is transformative. To make sure these children start school strong, we need to make sure their teachers and educators are paid fair.
Over 95% of community preschool teachers and educators are female.
Low rates of pay are a result of systemic, gender-based undervaluation of the work they perform. If the NSW Government does not address the workforce crisis in community preschools, these highly qualified professionals will not be able to continue to provide a vital service to our community. We must continue to fight to ensure community-preschool teachers and educators get the recognition they deserve.
Stand strong with community preschools
We encourage you to invite your colleagues in community preschools to join the union, and help us strengthen our collective voice.