“A Teacher Affects Eternity” - August 2024

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

This quote by Henry Adams was written inside a lovely Christmas card from a thoughtful parent, given to me at the end of a long school year, thanking me for teaching their child in their first year of primary school.

As a new educator who entered the profession because I was considered ‘good with kids’ and ‘liked playing’, this quote initially left me perplexed.

I was confused by the use of ‘he’ in the quote, though I hadn’t yet considered its historical context. More importantly, I wondered how I could possibly affect eternity.

Over time, I learnt to appreciate the value of the precious moments spent teaching children to read, manage numbers, communicate, learn through play, navigate friendships, and believe in themselves, along with countless other life skills.

It was, and still is, an honour to be entrusted with their education and to support their growth from year to year. I came to understand that I, like all educators, could make a difference.

There is nothing more precious than those first five years, so it has been sensational to see that, after decades of advocacy, early years educators have finally received much-deserved recognition.

Last week, the Federal Government announced it will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care, ECEC, workers. This wage increase will be linked to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases.

Our early years educators and leaders are nothing short of extraordinary. If it were an Olympic sport, they would be at the top of the podium. The complexity and importance of their work are paramount in a child’s early education.

By Five, along with many others in the advocacy space, have been fighting for improvements, including better pay and conditions to address staff shortages in the industry.

This recent recognition underscores the vital role of early years educators in the fundamental years of children’s lives.

Despite being among the lowest-paid professionals in Australia, early years educators perform a skilled job that demands extensive study and training.

The importance of these early years is well-documented, as they lay crucial foundations for future development. High-quality early childhood education is essential in supporting this growth and setting children up to thrive.

So, what does this mean for our local communities?

For the Wimmera Southern Mallee, it brings hope that we can improve workforce participation, build local workforce and productivity, and begin to reduce the waitlists in our ‘childcare desert,’ ultimately leading to stronger communities.

In the early years sector and local centres, this change will support a workforce currently under immense pressure and may discourage staff from seeking alternative employment that previously offered better wages. With increased staffing, we anticipate fewer disruptions to children’s Early Childhood Education and Care, ECEC, experiences, such as program adjustments or centre closures.

We also hope this will attract more people to enter the ECEC workforce.

Above all, educators will finally receive the recognition and compensation they deserve. 

As one inspiring educator from the West Wimmera Shire said to me last week ‘It is not just about the money; it’s that we feel valued now. People are starting to appreciate that we are doing important work.’

Another person I spoke to last week, had light and hope in her eyes, when we discussed the announcement, knowing it meant her son, an early years educator, would receive a bit of extra income by Christmas for his young family.

Like many others, he loves his job, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay in the profession on the current wage rates.

This pay rise is a significant step toward ensuring a supported and sustainable system, as the government begins to recognise and invest in the early years. Let us celebrate this fantastic news and continue to support our incredible educators.

This announcement, like the work of early years educators and teachers, will affect eternity.

Perhaps if you get an opportunity, remind them how important they are on Early Childhood Educators Day or write it in a Christmas card.

~ Tracey King, By Five Project Manager