Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (19:03): (2378) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for him to urgently meet with the Australian Education Union Victorian branch, representing kindergarten educators, and bring forward a fair wage increase offer. Kindergarten teachers are educators with specialist expertise in children’s learning development. They are tasked with children’s language development and ensuring active social participation and that high-quality and fun educational experiences are delivered to our youngest learners. They serve the profession, the community and Victorian families with so much heart, care and compassion. Minister, you have explicitly said Victoria is the Education State. However, our early childhood educators continue to face high and unmanageable workloads, with half of kindergarten teachers often thinking about leaving the profession altogether.

After 20 months of negotiations with the AEU Victoria, the Allan Labor government has failed to put a single wage offer on the table. In the midst of Victoria’s child safety crisis in early childhood education settings, this is unacceptable. This teaching profession has been consistently devalued, with educators reporting working almost half a day of overtime every week. Why does the caring sector, this sector, continue to be left to fight so hard, and yet their commitment is being met with disregard by this government? Newly introduced legislation to support child safety means nothing without adequate wages for educators that match the level of responsibility and accountability we expect them to have. Legislation alone does not protect children; people do. Quality education and children’s wellbeing are inseparable. If this government is serious about being the Education State, it must start by properly valuing the educators who make it possible. Minister, will you finally hear directly from our kindergarten teachers and heed their calls?