Updated Changes To The Children's Services Award 2010

The Fair Work Commission has made changes to the Children's Services Award 2010, which includes non-contact time for educational leaders, hats and sunscreen allowance for educators and changes to rostering.

Educators, please make sure you are aware of the updated changes so you have an understanding of what is required and your rights as an Educator based on the Children's Services Award 2010.

The following changes are listed below:

Non-Contact Time

• An employee responsible for the preparation, implementation and/or evaluation of a developmental program for an individual child or group of children will be entitled to a minimum of two hours non-contact time per week. During the non-contact time, an employee will not be required to supervise children or perform other duties as directed by the employer.
• An employee appointed as the Educational Leader will be entitled to a minimum of two hours non-contact time per week. During the non-contact time, an employee will not be required to supervise children or perform other duties as directed by the employer.

NOTE 1:Educational leader is defined in Regulation 118 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011).

NOTE 2:The entitlement are cumulative. An Educational Leader who also has programming responsibilities for an individual child or group of children will be entitled to a minimum of four hours non-contact time per week.

What this means: An Educational Leader is now required to have a minimum of 2 hours of non-contact time per week. If the Educational Leader is also responsible for the programming/observations they are entitled to a minimum of 4 hours of non-contact time per week.

Clothing and Equipment Allowance

• Where an employee is required to wear protective clothing or equipment such as hats and sunscreen lotion, goggles, aprons or gloves, the employer will either supply such clothing or equipment or reimburse the employee for the cost of their purchase. Reimbursement will be limited to reasonable costs incurred.

What this means: Educators will be provided with a hat and sunscreen by the centre or if you have to buy your hat and sunscreen to use each day you should be reimbursed by the centre for the total cost you had spent to buy hat and sunscreen.

Rostering

• An employer may change an employee’s rostered hours, but only by giving the employee seven days’notice. In the absence of such notice, overtime will be paid until seven days have elapsed from the date the notice was given. However, an employee and employer may agree to waive or shorten this notice period in a particular case. Such agreement may be made by electronic means of communication and must be recorded in the time and wages records.
• The employer is also not required to provide the full 7 days’notice where the employer makes the change as a result of an emergency outside of the employer’s control.

What this means: You employer can only change your rostered hours by giving you 7 days notice in advance. For example, if you typically work 10 to 4, your employer cannot change this without notifying you 7 days earlier. However, the 7 days notice can be waived if you and your employer agree.

For more detailed information, please refer to the: Children's Services Award 2010

Note: These changes come into effect from 01 November 2020

Reference: 
Children's Services Award 2010