A number of agreements cover members in the early childhood sector, but most assistants (including activity group leaders) and teachers (including preschool field officers and preschool advisers) are now covered by one of two agreements: the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Assistants Agreement (VECTAA 2009) and the Local Government Early Childhood Education Employees Agreement (LGECEEA 2009). Members can access these documents and AEU guidance further down this page.

Community preschool sector (VECTAA 2009)

Most teachers and assistants working in the community-based sector are employed under the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Assistants Agreement (VECTAA 2009). This replaces the long-standing MECA 2005, which has been the benchmark for employment standards in the Victorian early childhood sector. For the first time it covers early childhood education assistants, who were previously covered by the Early Childhood Assistants Award 1999.

Local Government Sector (LGECEEA 2009)

Early childhood teachers, assistants, activity group leaders and preschool field officers employed by the following councils are covered by the Local Government Early Childhood Education Employees Agreement (LGECEEA 2009). Those councils are: Ballarat City; Banyule City; Buloke Shire; Casey City; Corangamite Shire; Glenelg Shire; Golden Plains Shire; Greater Geelong City; Greater Shepparton City; Hume City; Knox City; Loddon Shire; Macedon Ranges Shire; Mitchell Shire; Moonee Valley City; Moyne Shire; Northern Grampians Shire; Towong Shire; Warrnambool City; West Wimmera Shire; Wodonga City; Yarra City; Yarra Ranges Shire; and Yarriambiack Shire Council.

Local government sector (non-LGECEEA)

Where members are employed by some other local government, not party to the LGECEEA, the AEU continues to negotiate Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) which build links to the provisions of VECTAA 2009 so that they are maintained as the benchmark for early childhood teachers and assistants across the state. Negotiations for EBAs are cyclical; at any one time, one or more council EBA will be under negotiation.

Early intervention agencies

The AEU is also party to approximately 15 agreements with early intervention agencies. These provide the terms and conditions for the early childhood intervention teachers employed by those agencies and are generally similar in terms to VECTAA 2009. Negotiations are ongoing with a number of agencies for agreements in similar terms to the VECTAA.

Other agreements

Small numbers of teacher members are still on agreements dating from 2000, 2002 or 2005.

AEU members can access the relevant awards, agreements, implementation guides and other support materials below.

VECTAA 2009

• The full agreement (PDF 1.6MB)
• The Implementation guide (PDF 1.82MB)

• The full agreement (PDF 786KB)
• The Implementation guide (PDF 1.82MB)

• Early childhood teachers' MECA 2005 (PDF 590KB)
• Early childhood teachers' MECA Variation Agreement 2002 (no.3) (PDF 800KB)

Awards - teachers

• Eudcation Services (teachers) Award 2010 (PDF 358KB)

• Children's Services Award 2010
• Know your rights - AEU advice booklet for early childhood assistants (PDF 2.30MB)

For further advice‚ email the AEU Membership Services Unit or call (03) 9417 2822.