Performing Higher Duties Means Higher Pay

Higher duties in the Children's Services Award refer to situations where an educator temporarily performs tasks or responsibilities that belong to a higher classification or position than their usual role. During this time, appropriate compensation should be awarded.

As per the Children's Services Award:

An employee engaged in duties carrying a higher rate than their ordinary classification for two or more consecutive hours will be paid for the time so worked at the higher rate provided that:

(a) the greater part of the time so worked is spent in performing duties carrying the higher rate;

(b) an employee engaged as a Children’s Services Employee Level 5 (Assistant Director) who is required to undertake the duties of a Director by reason of the Director’s absence will not be entitled to payment under this clause unless the Director’s absence exceeds two complete consecutive working days;

(c) an employee engaged as a Children’s Services Employee Level 3 who is required to undertake duties of the Director by reason of the Director’sattendance outside of core hours will not be entitled to payment under this clause;

(d) where an employee is appointed to act as the Director of a Centre or a Supervising Officer pursuant to the relevant childcare regulations, they will be paid for the entire period at the rate applicable for a Director or Supervising Officer; or

For the purposes of this clause, the duties of an employee will be determined by reference to this award and the employee’s job description.

Duties As Per The Children's Services Award

Level 1:

· Learning and implementing the policies, procedures and routines of the service.

· Learning how to establish relationships and interact with children.

· Learning the basic skills required to work in this environment with children.

· Giving each child individual attention and comfort as required.

· Basic duties including food preparation, cleaning and gardening.

Level 2:

· Assist in the implementation of the children’s program under supervision.

· Assist in the implementation of daily care routines.

· Develop awareness of and assist in maintenance of the health and safety of the children in care.

· Give each child individual attention and comfort as required.

· Understand and work according to the centre or service’s policies and procedures.

· Demonstrate knowledge of hygienic handling of food and equipment.

Level 3

· Assist in the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of developmentally appropriate programs for individual children or groups.

· Record observations of individual children or groups for program planning purposes for qualified staff.

· Under direction, work with individual children with particular needs.

· Assist in the direction of untrained staff.

· Undertake and implement the requirements of quality assurance.

· Work in accordance with food safety regulations.

Level 4

· Responsible, in consultation with the Assistant Director/Director for the preparation, implementation and evaluation of a developmentally appropriate program for individual children or groups.

· Responsible to the Assistant Director/Director for the supervision of students on placement.

· Responsible for ensuring a safe environment is maintained for both staff and children.

· Responsible for ensuring that records are maintained accurately for each child in their care.

· Develop, implement and evaluate daily care routines.

· Ensure that the centre or service’s policies and procedures are adhered to.

· Liaise with families

Level 5

· an Assistant Director of a service;

· a Children’s Services Co-ordinator;

· a Family Day Care Co-ordinator;

· a Family Day Care Trainee Supervisor; or

· a School Age Care Co-ordinator