Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hi everyone,

I have a pay related couple of questions and although i have looked at the award...its a bit more complicated. Firstly I am studying my DIploma and Im halfway through. I have just completed the Care cluster and am on to the Quality Improvement subject. I am working in a permanent position that started at the beginning of the year as a lunch float however if someone is away i often fill in for them in their room for the day. Im only getting paid $17.68 an hour and that never changes even when i step in for other educators for the dy. Also it seems fairly low considering im now halfway through my Diploma. I dont have a cert 3 in childrens services but i do have a cert 4 in busines administration and a cert 3 in Education Support. I have my senior first aid certificate and often administer first aid to children however we have to pay for our certificate ourselves and i do not get a first aid allowance in my pay. Other staff are on much higher rates than i am and on mondays i am actually the lead educator in the pre kindy room. DOes this pay rate seem right and what suggestions do you have to address this?

Thanks
Kelly

If you are halfway through your Diploma you would have completed your cert 3 portions of the Diploma so according to ACECQA you will be counted as a Diploma qualified worker:

A person who meets all five requirements below may be counted as a diploma qualified educator. They must give the approved provider documentary evidence from their course provider that they meet requirements 2 to 5.

The requirements for actively working towards an approved qualification are:
1.being enrolled in a course for the qualification
2.having commenced the course
3.making satisfactory progress towards completion
4.meeting the requirements to maintain enrolment
5.holding an approved certificate III qualification OR having completed the approved certificate III units OR having completed 30% of the units in an approved ECT qualification.

So I can figure out what level you may be , how often do you work as a room leader and as a room assistant and how many hours a week do you work?

,
Lorina

It just blows my mind that in our field of work why our pay is more. We work really hard and for what its not fair something should be done about this.

Nell Barrale wrote:It just blows my mind that in our field of work why our pay is more. We work really hard and for what its not fair something should be done about this.

Yeah I know! It's worse when your employer knowingly pays you less (below the required minimum wage or for your qualification) just because they think they can get away with it! Very frustrating!

,
Lorina