Childcare camp'gn for safe workplace

Date: 24 July 2002

Canberra's Child Care Union is keen to maintain high standards of care and staffing in our community and private sector child care centres, LHMU Child Care Union Assistant Secretary, Lyndal Ryan said today.

" The primary concern of all parents is that our centres have proper staffing to look after their children, to ensure that safety is never compromised, and to guarantee that all staff have appropriate qualifications.

" There is no doubt that the huge and rapid growth of the child care sector around Australia has created a staffing crisis which will never be fully satiated until the important role of our members is properly recognised and properly recompensed," Lyndal Ryan said.

Inquiry into childcare staff retention

The LHMU Child Care Union is pleased that the ACT Minister for Education is conducting an inquiry into childcare staff retention after the issue was brought to his attention by our union members earlier this year.

The timing of this inquiry could not have been more fortuitous with reports of a major child care company involved in a Queensland controversy over breaches of staffing and workplace laws. ( See The Australian July 24 2002 p4 Childcare company takes a dive)

The LHMU Child Care Union conducted a competition to decide on a slogan for a kit to assist parents and child care staff to participate in the ACT inquiry.

Launch of slogan

Place: East Lakes Football Club, Kingston,ACT

Time: 7pm

Date: 24 July 2002

The slogan is "Child Care Professionals Value our Expertise" and the competition winner was Cheryl Porter an LHMU Child Care union member engaged in family day care.

" The slogan is an attempt to help educate the community about the importance of children's services and the issues contributing to the general staffing crisis," Lyndal Ryan said.

The kit's logo was designed by parent and graphic designer, Emily Brissenden. Emily uses Spence Childrens Cottage for the care of her two children.

" Our members are very dedicated people, they continue their work even though they know that they could often earn a lot more money, with a lot less pressure, and a lot less responsibility, if they walked away from their jobs."

" We will be launching the theme and slogan for a campaign which will work hand-in-hand with the ACT Government in a Territory-wide Child Care Workforce Retention Inquiry and Survey."

The researchers conducting the inquiry will attend the evening together with the ACT Education Minister Simon Corbell.

The LHMU Child Care Union is also establishing a group to look at developing a policy statement on best child care practice. Those employed in the field are in the best position to determine appropriate staffing level and group sizes.

The LHMU proudly represents more than 150,000 hard working women and men throughout Australia.

For interviews: LHMU Child Care Union Assistant Secretary, Lyndal Ryan, 6273 1238 or 0411 643 982

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