
Issue No 68		25 August 2000

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Unions

A Vital Community Service

By Mark Hearn

What keeps the engine of the Australian economy running? Manufacturing productivity, the stock market, exports? Try child care.

Without a network of child care centres across New South Wales and Australia, and the enthusiastic and committed staff who run them, it's likely that the Australian economy would grind to a dead stop. With most families just getting by on two incomes, the demand for child care has never been higher.

Canley Vale Child Educational Centre - what you and I would usually recognise as a child care centre - caters for 35 children between 0-5 years of age mainly of Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish backgrounds, who keep the staff on their toes from 7.30 am until 6 pm five days a week.

The first person you're like to meet at the centre is Administrative Assistant Rose Cassarino. Rose works part-time. Into her 16 hour week she has to cram all the centre's administrative tasks - taking enrolments, collecting child care fees, fielding phone enquiries. The Howard Government's new funding system for child care also requires extensive and detailed paperwork, particularly in keeping an accurate track of the children attendances. Rose's duties don't leave much spare time. "If I'm sick or take a couple of days off I really pay for it."

These days, there's much more of an emphasis on the childrens' educational needs. Centre Director Rebecca Lardner takes a group of 3-5 year olds, the age group in need of school preparation, patiently through some basic lessons in talking, looking and listening. "Parent's are more aware now of the need for pre-school education", Rebecca says.

Many of the children also have special language needs. Child Care Assistant Quan Huynh can speak four languages - English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Mandarin, a skill much in demand as she manages the kid's day.

MEU Organiser Julie Griffiths notes that "there is a need to make both Councils and child care workers aware that the NSW Local Government Award contains a provision for a Community Language Allowance, payable in relation to the languages they are required to use in the workplace." The Award also makes provision for a First Aid Allowance for workers who have formal first aid qualifications. "The MEU believes that it has become vital for all child care workers to have a first aid qualification", Julie says.

Like many other child care workers, Shirley Tran not only puts in a long day on behalf of the children at the centre - she then goes home to after hours and weekend child care and family duties. "My work is pretty full time", Shirley smiles. Julie Griffiths emphasises that the MEU is working to improve pay rates for child care workers. Like many other professions traditionally dominated by women, child care workers are amongst the lowest paid in the workforce. As Julie says, "child care workers need greater recognition of the vital service they provide for the community."

Part of that vital service comes in support for child care workers and families. Tessy Panta runs the Special Needs and Multicultural Support team at the centre. "We help the staff keep up with new trends in child care, and we liaise with families, making sure that the staff are aware of any special needs the children might have."

The demand for child care remains high. Fairfield Council's centralised waiting list has 127 names on the books. A demand that has expanded opportunities for Home Carers like Maria Juarez, one of 16,000 Home Carers across New South Wales.

Being a Home Carer is no easy option. Maria receives $3.20 per hour per child. She must have appropriate certification from Fairfield Council. Her house has been rearranged to suit the needs of the children. Government regulations also dictate the kind of van she owns, which she uses to transport the children from time to time. Between 7.30 am and 6 pm she can cater for five children under five and two of school age, providing up to three meals, morning and afternoon tea and snacks. Like the larger centres, Maria offers a pre-school program. And most importantly, bright green playdough sausages, which the kids were busy rolling during our visit.

Maria says the care is "very family oriented. We get very close to the families - become like friends." She fields many calls for a place, often having to turn busy parents away. Only recently Maria was able to squeeze in a child for 5-6 hours during the day, to allow her mother, a shiftworker, to catch up on some much need sleep.

MEU General Secretary Brian Harris says the union is determined to improve the industrial rights of Home Carers. "The MEU is currently supporting a court appeal by a Home Carer in Dubbo, whose registration was cancelled without any right of appeal to Dubbo City Council. Put simply, it's a denial of natural justice. We are looking to the Carr Government to implement appropriate appeal procedures which all Council's must follow in cases such as this."

Over at the St. John's Park centre Director Therese Smith is busy organising lunch for 35 hungry mouths. Two groups of 3-5's tuck into a hot meal of chicken, steamed vegies and mash. Meanwhile Bill Jackson and Sheila Chaney are quietening the 0-2's for their midday rest. "Too often, child care is seen as a business", Julie Griffiths says. "We have to place greater value on child care as a fundamental community service, which Council's have a vital role in providing."

The basic tasks of feeding, rest and simple fun remain important. As Canley Vale Child Care Worker Julia Zaniol stresses, watching a group of laughing kids tumbling over play equipment. "It's always fun - games to play, things to do. It's a good learning environment." And a pretty good caring environment, too.

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Issue 68 contents

Interview: New Unionist
Britain's Trade Union Congress secretary John Monks on life under Blair and why the future of unionism could well rest in Europe.

History: The Victims of Whiggery
George Loveless, the leader of the rural workers who became the Tolpuddle Martyrs, recorded his ideals and experiences in a pamphlet that brings his story to life.

Economics: The Final Station
Corporatisation was first introduced into Australia by the former Greiner Coalition government. What is 'corporatisation' and who should we hold to account under its prescriptions?

International: Massive Union Win in American Telecom
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced on Thursday a settlement with Verizon Communications ending a fifteen day strike by 87,000 telephone workers from Maine to Virginia.

Unions: A Vital Community Service
What keeps the engine of the Australian economy running? Manufacturing productivity, the stock market, exports? Try child care.

Satire: Putin copies Clinton: dead seamen stains reputation
MOSCOW, Tuesday: Russian naval authorities today faced staunch criticism, and the anger of a nation gripped by tragedy, as they conceded that all 118 Russian submariners trapped in the nuclear submarine, the Kursk, had died.

Review: Blow Up The Pokies
Whether it arouses public debate about Gambling is best left to the public but Peter Zangarri thinks Tim Freedman is on a winner with the Whitlam's latest CD.

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