In a surprisingly quiet street in Sydney's Wentworthville, nestled among rising duplexes and high-rises, sits CELA member service Happy Days Kindergarten. There’s a welcoming charm to the service’s cottage-style exterior. Within, there’s a joyful buzz of children playing in the expansive green, leafy garden, a treasured experience for many who live in nearby apartments without backyards. The colourfully decorated walls have hosted decades of community connection and reflect a fierce commitment to early childhood education that puts children, not profits, first.
Happy Days Kindergarten Director Jodie Griffiths and CELA CEO Michele Carnegie recently met with Prospect MP Dr Hugh McDermott to talk about the incredible value of community preschools. This visit is part of CELA’s campaign to deliver pay parity for NSW community preschool educators and teachers.
A preschool committed to making a lasting impact
Happy Days has been operating for 75 years. While the service received its current service approval in 2009, its origins trace back to a building and land grant from a deceased estate, a gift made with the purpose of supporting children’s education. Today, it provides preschool education to 28 children each day, with a waitlist of 140 families and up to ten calls a week from others hoping for a place.
Director Jodie Griffiths has been with the service for 23 years, beginning as a casual educator before stepping into the director role 13 years ago.
The area is home to a high proportion of migrant families, many of whom are on working visas and therefore not eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). For these families, long day care is often out of reach financially. Community preschools like Happy Days are not just an option, but the only viable pathway to quality early education to give the children a chance to start school on an equal footing with their peers.
A committee with a culture of mutual respect and continuity
Community liaison officer and committee member Mary Azar knows every corner of the service. She knows the families, the educators, the committee members, and the needs of the community. Mary spoke passionately to Dr McDermott about the culture that has grown around Happy Days and its parent committee; one of mutual respect, deep relationships, and continuity.
I’ve been involved with the preschool since my own children attended,” Mary shared proudly. “Now my great nieces and nephews are here, its role in the community has only grown stronger. When families drop off their children, they know they’re being cared for and educated by someone they trust, like a member of their extended family. That’s what makes community preschools like this one special, and why I still devote my time to being involved with the committee. It’s a relationship, not a transaction.
Also attending the meeting were Amy and Rachel, two committee members who, like many families, chose to enrol multiple children at the preschool - returning even after trying other services in the area.
What stood out, Amy explained, was the preschool’s strong focus on school readiness and the quality of the preschool curriculum. Compared to other services she'd sent her children to, she said the learning felt more intentional, with more of a focus on preparing children for the transition to school, both socially and emotionally.
Amy and Rachel voiced their concern that children who miss out on preschool, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, are starting school at a disadvantage.
It’s not just about academics,” said Rachel. “Preschool teaches children how to be learners. Without it, they start school already behind.
Mary highlighted the often unseen dedication of the director, noting the many extra hours Jodie puts in behind the scenes to keep the preschool running smoothly. She also reflected on how, until recently, the committee hadn’t realised the extent of the pay gap between community preschool educators and those working in government schools. Once they understood the inequity, it became a priority for them to advocate for change and ensure that the educators they trust and rely on are properly recognised and fairly paid.
A call for fair and professional wages for NSW preschool educators and teachers
As a member based organisation, CELA is deeply connected to the current challenges faced by NSW community managed preschools to attract and retain staff without raising families’ fees. That’s why CELA is leading the first multi-employer bargaining application for NSW preschools on behalf of 104 community services.
This builds on our advocacy that secured a 15% federally funded pay rise for long day care teachers and educators, on behalf of community and small providers.
Despite delivering education and care to the majority of NSW children, community preschool teachers and educators are paid around 25% less than their counterparts in government schools.
“The current Start Strong funding will not stretch to include suitable pay without significant increases to parent fees,” said CELA CEO Michele Carnegie. “We’re seeing graduates and passionate, skilled educators moving to the school system and long day care for higher pay. Community preschools will be essential to delivering universal preschool for NSW three and four year olds. A qualified valued workforce is the first step for delivering this without increasing costs to families.”
During the visit, Jodie and her committee members shared their concerns with Dr McDermott, whose own mother was a preschool teacher. They asked for his support in advocating for additional NSW Government funding to enable community preschools to pay equal wages.
Dr McDermott understood the critical role that community preschools play in providing accessible high quality early education - particularly for migrant families and those unable to access subsidised long day care. He committed to supporting CELA’s campaign on behalf of community preschools by advocating to the NSW Government.
What happens next
The visit to Happy Days Kindergarten highlighted what many in our sector already know: community preschools are doing extraordinary work, often under immense pressure. They are led by committed professionals who believe in putting the future of children in their community first, and who deserve equal pay.
CELA will continue to show leadership on solving workforce shortages and elevating our member’s voices to the NSW Government.
Further reading on this topic
Amplify: CELA and IEU lodge NSW Preschool MEB application
Amplify: 8 ways CELA can support your community managed service