Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos has today welcomed early childhood teachers as registered teaching professionals, boosting the value and benefit Victorian families will get from early years learning services.
From today early childhood teachers will need to be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, with over 5,000 early childhood teachers already having submitted an application.
Ms Mikakos has been working closely with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and Minister for Education James Merlino to bring early childhood teachers onto the Register.
This brings them in line with school teachers and acknowledges the critical role they play in educating Victoria’s young children. Early childhood teachers must have an appropriate teacher qualification.
The Andrews Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State - this is another step in boosting the quality of early childhood learning for Victorian families.
The Labor Government last week delivered on its promise to assist the parties in the early years industrial dispute reach a resolution, with a Heads of Agreement being signed to pave the way for a solution.
This will see early childhood teachers reach pay parity and help Victoria’s early years learning services attract and retain talented and highly qualified educators.
Victorian families will also benefit from improved staff-to-child ratios from 1 January 2016, which will allow more one-on-one time for every child and boost the value they receive from time spent at kindergarten in preparation for school.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Victorian families will benefit from the extra value of retaining and attracting highly qualified early years teachers for their children.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – teachers and educators working in the early years services will be the frontline in delivering this vision.”
Quotes attributable to CEO Victorian Institute of Teaching Melanie Saba
“We value the support we have received from the early childhood sector for the introduction of registration. Registration reflects how teachers are highly valued by the community for their important work with children.”
Quotes attributable to VIT Council Chairperson Don Paproth
“This is an important day for the teaching profession and on behalf of the Victorian Institute of Teaching I warmly welcome early childhood teachers onto the Teacher Register - it is wonderful they are now recognised as part of the profession.”
Reviewed 10 February 2021