My community in Chisholm, just like me, really values education. I'm so delighted to be part of a government that is delivering a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators. This is not just going to help relieve the cost-of-living pressures for those workers, but through not increasing fees we're helping families right across the community as well as being able to assist in delivering productivity gains through more workforce participation.
The reason I know people in my electorate are so passionate about education—and specifically early childhood education—is that I've been speaking to them about this for a long time now. I've run a survey across my electorate to hear from educators, parents and families that access early childhood education and care in our community to see what they think the most pressing needs are. Based on the results of that survey, I made a submission to the Productivity Commission's early childhood education and care inquiry. The findings from this inquiry are really informing our government's approach to a universal early childhood education and care system. It was really clear from my survey that the No. 1 issue in the community was to take action to deliver a pay increase for educators, and I'm so pleased that is exactly what our government has done.
What I'd like to do here in the House today is read some of the comments from my community, because I want to acknowledge and recognise the work that educators do in our community every day, but also to acknowledge their advocacy and the expert voices that they brought to this conversation in order to assist our government make a decision to bring forward this pay rise. One early educator said, 'The wages we are paid do not reflect our training and the importance of our role in a child's education.' An educator in Glen Waverley said, 'I am a qualified teacher with over 30 years experience in the sector. I am burnt out, unsupported, undervalued and disheartened. I do not earn enough to save, and there are no regular increases in wages. This year my focus will be looking for a position in a new sector where I'm valued as a professional and paid accordingly. It's time to leave.' That's a particularly heartbreaking comment.
Parents were very supportive of a wage increase, with a mum in Blackburn South saying, 'We need to value those who work in this industry and pay them properly. Early education sets kids up for life. A good experience brings numerous benefits for families.' A dad in Burwood East said, 'We struggle with affordability of child care and know the sector is not paid fairly. The amount of responsibility educators have means they should be paid at higher rates.'
As well as that feedback from my community, I've got some more feedback, which is the reception we've had to our announcement delivering a 15 per cent pay increase. Educators are saying, 'Instead of searching for a second job, this pay increase will help me pay rent and put food on my table. This isn't just a huge win for educators like me; this is a huge win for our community and for our families that we have here in the centre.' Another educator said, 'This is a monumental, history-making moment. This means I can stay in the job I love, and I know that it is going to change a lot of lives, not just my own.'
Our government has done the work of listening to our communities about what needs to happen in our early education and care system. We are making some pretty serious commitments here to workers by delivering a 15 per cent pay increase, to families by ensuring that their fees do not increase, and to children, of course, who are getting the best quality education they can possibly get in those very early years of life. We know those first five years are crucial for setting someone up for a successful life journey.
I am very proud to be part of a government that listens, that takes action and that is doing what it can do to ensure that we take pressure off households and workers at this time when people are feeling the pinch with the cost of living.
