Shine Magazine, Issue 1, February 2010 - Department of Education ...

eArly cHilDHooDNew CEO at the helm of KPVA passionate early childhood educator is the new leader of Kindergarten Parents Victoria,writes Tina Lutonphoto BY tImothY BUrGEss“thIS IS a particularly exciting time for early childhoodeducators and all families accessing early childhood services,”says emma King, Ceo of Kindergarten Parents Victoria(KPV) since november last year. “We have the long-overduerecognition of early childhood educators being trulyacknowledged for their educational expertise, and this willonly be further enhanced through government initiativesincluding the Blueprint and recent CoaG (Council ofaustralian Governments) announcements.”KPV is the peak organisation and employer body promotingthe voice of parents in early childhood education for Victorianchildren. It represents over 1000 early childhood services andsupports more than 200,000 children and their familiesevery year.a passionate advocate for the provision of high-quality,accessible and affordable early childhood education, Ms Kinghas worked as a teacher and as a senior education adviser tothe Victorian government. She also has considerable experiencein industrial relations having worked in senior roles for tradeunions in education and finance.She says that the recent industrial agreement negotiated byKPV, the australian education Union (aeU) and the Liquor,hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LhMU), with theassistance of DeeCD, for kindergarten teachers and assistantsis key to achieving significant changes and promoting theprofession of early childhood education.“KPV understands the importance of recognising staff aseducators and the provision of wage parity with schoolteachers at the entry point and top of the salaryscale is an important and significant step forward.“the wage increases in the agreement areassociated with productivity gains, including15 hours of kindergarten to four-year-oldchildren in Victoria and the transition toschool reports. KPV is committed to workingwith the government and union to implementthese exciting changes.”Ms King adds that while the pace of change inearly childhood education is unprecedentedand creates challenges, it is verywelcome. “KPV recognises that Victoriais leading the way in the provisionof high-quality early childhoodeducation and we are thrilled to beplaying a key role in delivering greatoutcomes for professionals in thesector and for Victorian families,”she says. SShine Feb 2010 15