Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009 12:44am AEST

The union representing childcare workers, the Liquor Hospitality Miscellaneous Union (LHMU), has applauded the Council of Australian Governments for making progress on national standards for the sector.

The Federal, state and territory Governments agreed to a national strategy and are seeking feedback on a plan to overhaul regulation of childcare.

The plan would see a new rating system for kindergartens and childcare centres, nation-wide standards for staff-to-child ratios and minimum qualification requirements for childcare workers.

LHMU spokeswoman Sue Lines says it is an important step forward for the sector, but she is worried there may not be enough funding.

“Some recognition that under fives have some sort of universal right to childcare in this country, that will be fantastic, and if it’s consistent across the country that will be something that hasn’t been achieved before,” she said.

“But the funding to make it work needs to be there. We’ve got to lift workers’ wages and we’ve got to make sure there’s proper programming time in paid work time for staff.”

Childcare workers say they are encouraged by the plan and Ms Lines says workers are happy to work with the national qualifications and ratio benchmarks.