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October 2026: Act now to save community preschools (Universal Preschool Funding)

The NSW government’s Universal Preschool Funding program promises millions of dollars in new funding for community preschools.

But the devil is in the detail. Many preschools anticipate losing hundreds of thousands of dollars under the new program. This is because its guidelines are based on complex enrolment requirements, yet preschools have already settled enrolments for 2027. Many are not licensed to enrol more children.

The viability and capacity of many community preschools to deliver safe early childhood education and care is still under threat. 

ACT NOW TO SAVE COMMUNITY PRESCHOOLS

IEU members in preschools from the Northern Rivers to metropolitan Sydney, the South Coast, Riverina and Albury-Wodonga regions predict funding cuts of up to $250,000 per preschool.

Any decrease in funding may lead to pay freezes and job losses for teachers and educators amid rising unemployment and a cost-of-living crisis. It not only affects staff and families but entire communities – almost 50,000 children in NSW are enrolled in community preschools.

The NSW government cannot deliver universal preschool by undermining the very services that make it possible. 

The NSW government must act to ensure its new program delivers real funding increases that ensure job security and continuity of high-quality services.

 Here’s what you can do: 

Poster action: Print and complete the “What Universal Preschool Funding means to us” poster. Take photos and share them on your preschool’s social media pages. Tag your local MP, Premier Minns and Deputy Premier Car. Don’t forget to tag the IEU on Facebook and Instagram.
Attend a rally outside MPs’ offices: Join us next Thursday in the Northern Rivers (Janelle Saffin) or the Hunter Valley (Clayton Barr). And next Friday in Western Sydney (Prue Car).
Write to your local MP: Explain how much funding your preschool will lose and what this will mean for the children and families who rely on your service.

NSW MPs: Speak up for community preschools

On 15-17 September, IEU preschool ambassadors will be meeting with NSW MPs to discuss the impacts of the new funding model for community preschools.

As part of the new Universal Preschool Funding program, the government is proposing

A pay cut for community preschool teachers
Cuts to staffing levels, compromising safety and quality
No additional funding for community preschools

This is an unacceptable blow to community preschools across NSW. It threatens the safety of children and the viability of many services and does nothing to address the workforce crisis that community preschools face.

We need MPs to stand with community preschools and help us safeguard quality early education in NSW.

Read our letter to NSW MPs

With the Fair Work Commission on our side and new recommendations from a Parliamentary inquiry, your voices are being heard, and our campaign is growing. Now more than ever, we need you standing by us in this pivotal push for change.

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The NSW Government must fund fair pay and conditions for community preschools!

After months of bargaining with your union, the IEU, the NSW Government has rejected our proposal for increased funding to help you get the wages you deserve. They refuse to take responsibility as the main funding body for community preschools in NSW.

The Expanding Quality Access program, announced by the NSW Government on 16 September, won’t fix the problem.

We need the NSW government to stand with community preschools and pay their teachers and educators what they deserve.

Fighting for Community Preschools

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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.

Community preschools set the standard for high-quality early childhood education and care

Community preschools provide high-quality early education and care. Around 52% of community-based preschools are rated as exceeding in the National Quality Standards (NQS ratings), compared to around 18% of 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 94% 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.

Find the full set of Campaign Updates here

August 14: Members demand action on funding promise

June 26: Media release: Union welcomes new funding model for community preschools

June 23: Media release: Optimism for community preschool funding boost as NSW budget handed down

May 20: Media release – Parliamentary report urges NSW government to fund pay rises for preschool teachers

May 6: Media alert – Community preschools set to rally in Lismore

May 6: Media alert – Community preschools set to rally in Martin Place

April 23: Start Strong Pay Fair – our letter to parents

March 23: Media alert – Preschools and NSW government come face-to-face at Fair Work Commission

March 20: “Why are we wearing pink?” – a preschool story about teachers, fairness and standing together

March 18: Media release – Preschools turn pink for pay rises

March 12: Media release – NEW Education Minister needs a plan for community preschools