How much do you get paid in Childcare? Open Discussion on Childcare Wages....

[Lorina]

I think each year you work at a centre, during staff appraisals, you should be given an opportunity to negotiate your wages. Especially if you have worked there for a certain number of years. I just think that all employers should discuss the wage issue openly with staff, however most of the time they won't approach the subject. No wonder so many people end up leaving the industry!

Oh and if you do happen to find a new centre and when you begin to discuss your wage, ask them when you will be given an opportunity to re-negotiate, after 6 months or a year etc. Get this in writing from your employer...

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L.A

[rocknrolla]

I think each year you work at a centre, during staff appraisals, you should be given an opportunity to negotiate your wages. Especially if you have worked there for a certain number of years. I just think that all employers should discuss the wage issue openly with staff, however most of the time they won't approach the subject. No wonder so many people end up leaving the industry!

Oh and if you do happen to find a new centre and when you begin to discuss your wage, ask them when you will be given an opportunity to re-negotiate, after 6 months or a year etc. Get this in writing from your employer...

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L.A

Thanks for the advice, we have never actually had staff appraisals, i work for a "chain" (i think you can guess!) but i guess that shouldn't make a difference as to wether or not you have appraisals?? the only thing im scared about a new place is being paid less then what i do, because having just built a house i can't afford anything less

[Lorina]

No, from my experience you wouldn't be paid less! They will probably ask you what your current wage is and they will either match it or offer you more... If they end up offering you less than you are getting now, you just need to be straight forward and tell them that you are looking for somewhere that is offering a little more than what you're getting. It's always a touchy area discussing wages with future employers but you need to make it clear to them with what you want. If they are happy to employ you then they won't mind paying...

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L.A

[catchmeifucan]

Thanks for the advice, we have never actually had staff appraisals, i work for a "chain" (i think you can guess!) but i guess that shouldn't make a difference as to wether or not you have appraisals?? the only thing im scared about a new place is being paid less then what i do, because having just built a house i can't afford anything less

In past centres I rarely had staff appraisals either. Even though during the 3 month probation period I was told that staff appraisals would occur twice a year. It was even in the staff policy and it still didn’t happen. No it shouldn’t make a difference if you have staff appraisals but since it goes over your performance anyway you’re in a better situation to negotiate your wage. That’s probably why centre’s don’t bother with them. LOL.

[dentybubba]

Hi
New member here. So glad I found this site. I have just started my cert 3 after throwing in the towel with an admin job I've worked at pretty much all my working life. Sick of sitting at a computer and talkng to no one. I process invoices. That's all. I get paid $21 an hour being a pencil pusher.

My concern is what I will be paid as a cert 3 worker with hardly any experience. I am 36 and have 2 kids under 4 myself so I do have expereince with kids/babies. I'm concerned a center will present to me a horrid wage of $16 per hour until I get Diploma qualified. What is the going rate for a brand newbie into the industry worth?
Thanks

[Lorina]

It's nice to hear you decided to change your career from a boring desk job... I know I wouldn't be able to cope with a job like that! Like any job I guess you have to take the good with the bad.... Unfortunately with childcare you don't get the best rate of pay, especially when you have to start right from the beginning. I checked out the Modern Award Wage for you and when starting as a cert 3 the minimum you will be offered is $15.86. This means any centre you begin at will either offer you this rate or higher, which really depends on the individual centre itself. it's really hard to actually determine how much you are supposed to get because in the Modern Award it only states the minimum rate you will receive. It's probably going to be hard going from $21 down to maybe $16 but sometimes we have to bite the bullet to do something we really want to do...

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L.A

[dentybubba]

Hi
Thanks for that. That's so depressing. Unfortunately my family rely too much on my income for me to take a drop like that. Maybe I need to re-think things now. I understand what you're saying in regards to biting the bullet but I just don't think I can bite the bullet that much. Maybe if my hubby earned more but that won't be for a couple of years. Thanks for your help.

Ho hum.

[sunmonika]

I am so disappointed with my wages.I just finished Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and have 5 years experience a s a group leader with diploma and all I get is $24 per hour...I really think this is joke:( The only reason why I am still in Childcare is that I love this age group:(Is it going to change one day?I feel a little bit discriminated,if I work at school I would get paid much more!

[joyrich]

I was really really shocked when i left my relief teaching career to do early years children services. I'm completing my diploma this year and if i think of what my wage is gonna be....it makes me wonder
To be honest, i don't feel valued and appreciated as a childcare educator if i compare my dedication and efforts to my wages /hour....

[dulciean]

Well, the last three posters/ posts make my heart heavy. It's a sad fact that Early Childhood could attract career- minded professionals but the PAY AND CONDITIONS make it unfeasible. It is a rude shock to discover the drop in pay in the job- many if not most people are unaware of the rate of pay we survive on! It's a political issue really- simply the Early Childhood portfolio is in the Industry sector - it belongs in the Education sector for the government to pay attention. This is the over arching goal of the QIAS and national regulations - higher qualifications= higher quality services= respect by the government and the public for what we actually DO!
Hope the wheel turns sooner rather than later.

[catchmeifucan]

I am so disappointed with my wages.I just finished Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and have 5 years experience a s a group leader with diploma and all I get is $24 per hour...I really think this is joke:( The only reason why I am still in Childcare is that I love this age group:(Is it going to change one day?I feel a little bit discriminated,if I work at school I would get paid much more!

I am so surprised when I read your post. $24 as an ECT? It's not really worth going to uni and studying if you are only getting a few more $ than a diploma trained. The government is insisting for us to get higher qualifications but what's the point when our wages are like this!

[sbt]

hi all
im doing a traineeship for my cert 3 and was wondering where to find out what the award rate of pay is. ive tried using the fair trade website but its very confusing. can someone please point me in the right direction.

[Lorina]

hi all
im doing a traineeship for my cert 3 and was wondering where to find out what the award rate of pay is. ive tried using the fair trade website but its very confusing. can someone please point me in the right direction.

It is very confusing trying to work out the minimum award because everyone is based on a "level" and there isn't any clear information that states which qualification is based on which level... it's so silly we can't even work out how much our minimum wage is.

Please don't take my word for it because I could be entirely wrong but as a trainee I think you may be classified as a Children's Services Employee Level 3A.1. I think the minimum wage is $538.70 per week for a full time traineeship, depending on when you left school. This is the information I found in the Children's Services Award 2010:

I'm attaching a copy of the Children's Services Award 2010. Check out the section called "Minimum Wages for Full time Traineeship".

[attachment=0]Childcare_wages.doc[/attachment]
It's so confusing isn't it! Like I mentioned I could be completely wrong about this. You also need to consider that your wage also depends on the centre, whether they are offering above award, any other allowances etc.

Sorry I couldn't help you more,

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L.A

[Lorina]

hi all
im doing a traineeship for my cert 3 and was wondering where to find out what the award rate of pay is. ive tried using the fair trade website but its very confusing. can someone please point me in the right direction.

It's Me Again,

Thanks to one of our support team members I was able to find out further information regarding your minimum wage for your traineeship. According to the Children's Services Modern Award the community services traineeship falls under "Wage Level A". So if you're completing a full time traineeship your minimum wage is as follows:

Wage Level A

Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a full - time AQF Certificate Level I-III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level A by Appendix D1 are:

Highest year of schooling completed

Year 10:

School Leaver - $272.40 per week
Plus 1 year out of school - $300.10 per week
Plus 2 years out of school- $357.50 per week
Plus 3 years out of school - $416.00 per week
Plus 4 years out of school - $484.10 per week
Plus 5 or more years out of school- $554.30 per week

Year 11:

School Leaver - $300.10 per week
Plus 1 year out of school - $357.50 per week
Plus 2 years out of school- $416.00 per week
Plus 3 years out of school - $484.10 per week
Plus 4 years out of school - $554.30 per week

Year 12:

School Leaver - $357.50 per week
Plus 1 year out of school - $416.00 per week
Plus 2 years out of school- $484.10 per week
Plus 3 years out of school - $554.30 per week

I didn't want you to provide you with the wrong information so I thought I'd add the above, so it can give you a better understanding of what is the required minimum wage for a traineeship.

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L.A

[Lorina]

Recently the government announced a $300 million funding package to increase wages of early childhood educators.

Join our discussion by adding your comments to the following forum: Government's $300 million wages funding!

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L.A

[Lorina]

Hi Everyone,

I've added a new topic which gives an explanation of the level classification in the childcare award wage.

Childcare Award Wages: Classification Levels Explained

For those of you, this should clear up any confusion you may have in which classification you fall under to determine your minimum wage.

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L.A

[dulciean]

Gosh it really is quite dire isn't it- not much to encourage people to choose our profession.i am also feeling very grateful that my positions have always paid over the minimum wage- those few dollars an hour make a difference! Quick question- do ECT's in the industry get covered under the Teacher's Award? And can someone please link this award here ?

[Lorina]

Important Information on on Pay, Leave, Hours, Rosters, Breaks etc.

Childcare Award Wages: Info on Pay, Leave, Hours, Rosters, Breaks etc.

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L.A

[claremarie]

hello every one
This is my first post.
I am 23 unqualified but studding certificate 3. I work for a centre connected to a private school down in Hobart, Tasmania.
I've been working there for 1 and a half years as a casual relief worker, my pay is $23.69 an hour.
But its been hard to work as I have a 4 year old son.

[Misse84]

I am a certificate 3 with three years experience, and get 21.50 I think. I left my old job due to bad conditions, and my co worker who has ten years experience gets paid the same as me. I think that is unfair, because she is also a nominated supervisor.

At the last centre, the ECT got $35 an hour, that would be my perfect wage when I qualify.