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04 March 2026
By Bronwyn Hastings
Wimmera early childhood teachers and educators were among 1500 people asking for better pay and conditions at the Australian Education Union’s stop-work rally in Melbourne on Thursday last week.
The second statewide stop-work in five months, it has not yet brought an outcome to 20 months of negotiations.
Horsham teacher Alice Clarke said the delays were taking a toll on the workforce.
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“Participating in the rally alongside 1500 colleagues from across the state was validating in how upset and let down we are feeling about the unnecessarily long period this bargaining process has been taking,” she said.
“The toll the delays have taken on our workforce was visible. You could feel the energy, the frustration and anger was bringing us together – enough is enough.”
Ms Clarke said she felt the State Government’s statements of value and respect for their workforce were words and words only.
“With their inability to try to understand our log of claims and meet the professional needs of our sector, Victoria can no longer be known as ‘The Education State’ with the way Victorian early childhood teachers and educators are being disrespected,” she said.
“We are loyal to our communities and taking this action for our communities.”
AEU Early Childhood vice-president Cara Nightingale said the State Government’s inaction puts at risk the free kinder promise to Victorian parents with three and four-year-old children.
She said the government had promised 15 hours of free kindergarten for three-year-olds and 30 hours for four-year-olds and to deliver this, Victoria needed 11,000 more kindergarten teachers and educators.
“Attracting the next generation of kindergarten teachers and educators requires competitive pay and for their work to be valued,” she said.
“In addition, the Allan government must put in place measures that enable the retention of current kindergarten teachers and educators.
“The State Government needs to be much better at valuing kindergarten teachers and educators, if half of them regularly think about leaving the profession.”
The entire March 4, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
