SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia, has raised concerns that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations providing Early Childhood Education and Care services may be excluded from the government's proposed 15% pay rise for educators.

During a public hearing on the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024, SNAICC urged the government to collaborate with ACCOs to prevent unintentional exclusion from the wage increase provisions.

SNAICC chief executive, Arrernte/Luritja woman Catherine Liddle acknowledged the federal government's commitment to fund a pay rise for ECEC workers but highlighted potential barriers for ACCO early years services in accessing this payment.

"While we welcome the payment increase, we believe there are unintended consequences around the wage increases processes which are creating barriers for ACCO early years services to access the payment," Ms Liddle said.

She noted the development of the wage increase, including the Bill, did not involve consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies or organisations.

"The design and implementation of this wage increase, including the Bill, was not done in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies or organisations so we have urged governments to work with us so ACCOs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are not left behind," she said.

SNAICC has called on the government to engage with them to ensure that ACCOs and Indigenous children do not fall behind.

The organisation suggested that the government should consider targeted exemptions to the fee increase limits for ACCO ECEC services.

It also urged the government to consider the integrated nature of many ACCOs' Early Childhood services and to provide tailored support regarding workplace instruments required for the grant.

Ms Liddle pointed out that workforce attraction and retention remain pressing issues, with some centres facing the risk of closure due to these challenges.

"Community Controlled ECEC services are a vital part of the ECEC sector—they are proven to better engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and achieve better outcomes for our children, particularly in regional and remote areas where services are most needed," she explained.

SNAICC has called on the Australian Government to partner with the sector to ensure that the Bill positively impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood outcomes across all services.

The organisation has submitted its views to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee's inquiry regarding the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024.

The submission can be found online.