Thousands of early childhood educators are set to receive a pay increase before the year ends, with the final stage of a multi-employer bargaining agreement scheduled to be signed today.
Around 12,000 educators from 64 providers will benefit from a 10 percent pay rise under a new government initiative designed to attract more people to the workforce.
This development follows more than a year since the United Workers Union filed an application with the Fair Work Commission to negotiate wage increases with employer representatives. The application was submitted on the same day the federal government’s Secure Jobs Better Pay legislation came into effect, allowing workers across multiple employers to bargain collectively within the same industry.
The Fair Work Commission approved the application in September of last year. In August, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an additional 5 percent wage increase for childcare educators, effective December 2025. This announcement followed a federal budget promise of a 15 percent pay increase, which was described as “justice.”
“Justice for the work that early educators do goes beyond merely looking after our children,” Albanese stated. “They care for and educate them. Human brain development occurs primarily in the first five years of life, making this role vital.”
The pay rise has garnered positive feedback from Carolyn Smith, Early Education Director at the United Workers Union. She believes it will help retain current workers and attract new talent.
“Workers, employers, and the government have come together to secure this pay rise, which is a game changer for keeping educators in the sector,” Smith told the ABC.
She highlighted ongoing challenges, noting that many women in the workforce have left due to low wages. Smith also indicated that educators from other parts of the sector, including 16,000 employees at Goodstart, can expect to reach agreements in the coming weeks.
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