Grandparents, neighbours and anyone with spare time may be called on for babysitting duties on Wednesday, as over 40 non-profit preschools from the Northern Rivers Preschool Alliance around Lismore and the Northern Rivers close for a half or full day this Wednesday (October 15).

There will also be some disruption to traffic as part of the 'Day of Action' when protesting teachers, educators, and families march from Spinks Park, down Magellan Street, to The Quad at 9am.

The Day of Action is being taken to highlight an ongoing battle over funding with the NSW Government that has been running for twelve months. The Alliance says more funding is needed to attract and retain teachers and educators in the preschool system.

There are more than 700 community preschools across NSW that provide a vital service to educate and care for children aged three to five years, and over 40 of these are in the Northern Rivers region.

Bridget Isichei, director of Byron Bay Preschool and president of the Northern Rivers Preschool Alliance, said: “We’re experiencing a staffing crisis that is growing by the day, as experienced teachers and educators leave the sector and community preschools struggle to attract new staff. We cannot fund wages without government support, as the current funding is too low”.

The Alliance stated that while local preschools have an excellent record of child safety and provision of high-quality education in the years before school, they are struggling to keep their highly qualified staff. Teachers in community preschools earn up to 35% less than their colleagues with the same qualifications and responsibilities in schools and up to 20% less than teachers in Commonwealth-funded long day care centres.

Non-profit community preschools are the safest model of education and care for children, with many preschools rated by the Department of Education as exceeding the National Quality Standard, and very low rates of safety breaches.

“Preschool is a flagship model and one that has children’s wellbeing and safety at its heart, so we must fight to retain it. We have been bargaining with the NSW government in the Fair Work Commission for over a year now, and they have refused to negotiate with us, rejecting our request for increased funding for wages for teachers and educators," Ms Isichei said.

“Without an increase to NSW government funding to lift pay and conditions, many community preschools will be forced to turn away families.”

“We’ve met with Lismore MP Janelle Saffin seeking support but are still awaiting a response, and the Education Minister has so far refused to talk to us.”

The Lismore connected Ms Saffin, who said, "I value very much our community preschools and am working hard to support them to be able to better provide the services our children need and deserve. I am very aware of what their campaign asks of them and their union."

On September 16, the state government announced a $100 million plan for community preschools to extend operating hours, longer than the current 9am to 3pm hours, open more days, and cater for children from birth through to school age.

The NRs Preschool Alliance says the government declined to provide any funding for wages or staff costs within the $100 million announcement.

They stated that local preschool teachers and directors are shocked that the NSW Government would ask already overstretched teachers and educators to work longer hours, for more days, and with more children, with no additional funds for wages, especially in the midst of a staffing and safety crisis.

You can read more about the Day of Action at  https://www.ieu.asn.au/start-strong-pay-fair/.