About

Big Steps in Early Childhood Education and Care is the campaign to win professional wages for educators. For too long, dedicated professionals are leaving our industry in droves for jobs with less responsibility and more pay. And who would blame them? A qualified educator earns around $17.50 an hour to educate and care for our greatest resource.

A campaign by members of United Voice, the union for early childhood educators, Big Steps is working hard to halt this growing crisis. By paying professional wages to these dedicated individuals we can transform our sector, stem turnover and foster a quality sector focussed on giving children the best start.

Early childhood educators provide first class education and care for children while also providing an invaluable service for families and the wider community. They should be paid a salary that reflects their vital role. Parents are already burdened with the enormous cost of raising children and make a hefty contribution to their childcare fees. They cannot be expected to make up the gap in reward for the professionals who educate their children. If Australia values its children we should expect our government to pay for professional recognised educators.

Big Steps National Convenors

Big Steps is a campaign by United Voice, the union for early childhood educators, for professional wages.

The Big Steps National Convenors are directors and educators from every state and territory who are committed and dedicated to winning the campaign for professional wages. They come together nationally to coordinate Big Steps campaign activities. The Convenors also facilitate local Big Steps campaign activities in their respective states and territory.

The Big Steps National Convenors are:

Judy Kuzma (ACT)
Alice Voigt & Tanya Robinson (NSW)
Alice Branco & Cecile Briscoe (NT)
Caitlin Deakes & Coralee O’Rourke (QLD)
Tamika Hicks & Natalie Harris (VIC)
Nikki Baker & Cheryl Shigrov (SA)
Rebecca Hayes, Julie Dowling & Cindy van der Voet (TAS)
Kerry Pelajic & Michelle Wittman (WA)

To contact Big Steps campaign or the Big Steps National Convenors, please email: bigsteps@unitedvoice.org.au