Certainty for families as government extends early educator pay rise

MEDIA STATEMENT 

Certainty for families as government extends early educator pay rise

The Parenthood welcomes the federal government’s commitment to continue the 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, backed by a further $3.6 billion investment over two years.

“This is welcome news for Australian children, families and educators. The government has listened and acted after we warned that families were facing imminent fee increases and instability without this commitment,” The Parenthood CEO Georgie Dent said.

“This funding is a genuine win — for educators who deserve certainty and every cent of this pay rise, children who deserve well-paid educators, families who need fee certainty and a sector that can now plan with confidence.

“The 15 per cent wage increase helps keep experienced educators where children need them. Every parent knows the difference a great educator makes, and this decision means more of them stay in the job while families are protected from a significant hike in fees.

“Parents need affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and care delivered by a stable and supported workforce. This is a positive and necessary step towards that goal.”

The Parenthood also welcomes the inclusion of family day care and in-home care from July. Families rely on different forms of early learning and care, and the educators working across these settings deserve to be recognised and supported.

Requiring services to meet the National Quality Standard as a condition of payment from mid-2027 is also an important step. Families should be able to trust that every early learning service is safe, high-quality and delivered by a stable, supported workforce.

“This funding delivers certainty, fairness and quality together. It is a significant step towards making the affordable, accessible and high-quality early learning that children, families and communities depend on a reality,” Ms Dent said.

“This is also why The Parenthood has consistently called for a national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission — to help plan and steward a system that is affordable, accessible, high-quality and safe for every child and family.

“We warmly welcome this commitment. It strengthens the workforce, supports families and builds momentum towards a national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission that can secure these gains for the long term.”

The Parenthood is Australia’s leading parent advocacy organisation, representing families nationwide and working to make early childhood education and care safer, more affordable and accessible for every child.