Early Childhood Educators in Councils need the Worker Retention Payment

The Australian Government has committed $3.6 billion to fund wage increases for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers across the country — including those working in Council-run services.

Through this two-year program, eligible educators working in Centre-Based Day Care and Outside School Hours Care can receive wage increases of between $2.40 and $4.34 per hour, plus additional funding to cover other on-costs.

These increases are fully funded by the Commonwealth, not by individual Councils.

To access this funding, Councils must apply through a federal grant process. Applications are open now until September 2026.

Importantly, if Councils submit a complete application before 30 June 2025 the pay increases will be backdated to 2 December 2024.

This is a significant opportunity to recognise and reward the essential work of ECEC educators — and to help keep skilled staff in the sector.

The Australian Services Union is funded to raise awareness of this program and to support educators with information about what it means for their workplace.

Stay Informed
If you work in a Council-run childcare or OSHC service and want to stay updated on this opportunity, get in touch here. We'll keep you up to date and let you know how workers in your centre can access these wage increases.

The work of Early Childhood Educators is essential. They support families, communities, and young learners. They deserve a pay rise that recognises this.