2. “ I have put so much effort and time into my studies to find out only 6 months before completion that I would need to do another 2 years somewhere else to be acknowledged as a 'TEACHER' and receive appropriate wages and conditions.

4. EQUAL PAY

5. “ I am really pleased that with the EYLF the work we do as 'teachers' in the early childhood years is finally being recognised... it is NOT just care and play. This is even more reason why we should be awarded equal pay and conditions to our 'school teacher' counterparts!

7. “ I am a first year teacher so my first year wage is less than my top step diploma was - less wages and I now have a HECS debt plus I dedicated 4 years to study!

8. EQUAL RECOGNITION

10. “ I love watching the children I work with develop and discover the skills they need to continue growing in school and life. That's why I am still an early childhood teacher.

11. PAY PARITY NOW!

13. “Appropriate input in the early years of a child's life reduces the costs of intervention in following years - why can't politicians see the value in that?”

15. FUND EQUAL PAY

16. “I'm an early childhood teacher because I love what I do and the age group I work with - it would be great for the importance of this precious age to be recognised.”

18. “ Wages being so low is the only thing I do not like about teaching. Even our untrained bookkeeper gets a higher hourly rate than me as a teacher.

19. EQUAL PAY

21. “ I have been a Director and Teacher in SA, Vic and now NSW. This would have to be the worst state to work in - too undervalued.”

23. “ I have more responsibility than the local headmaster and do not get the same opportunities, respect, financial reimbursement, holidays, training. ”

25. PAY PARITY NOW!

26. “ I feel equal pay would certainly help acknowledge the fact that early childhood educators are more than nurturing women. ”

28. “ Governments must fund early childhood services and stop getting early childhood teachers on the cheap ”

30. “Independent Education Union – our union, leading the fight for pay parity”

31. Why are our wages 20% lower than school teachers’ wages?

32. PAY PARITY NOW!