PAY RISE FOR EARLY EDUCATORS WHILE KEEPING FEES DOWN FOR FAMILIES

Member for Ballarat Catherine King today visited the Ballarat Child Care Co-operative in Ballarat North to speak with Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers about the Albanese Government’s 15 per cent wage increase for the sector.

The wage increase will be tied to a commitment from Child Care Centres to limit fee increases.

This significant wage increase is an important next step in the Government’s reforms to the sector, building on the successful Cheaper Child Care changes, which have already benefitted 105 families with children at the Ballarat Child Care Co-operative and over 4200 families throughout the Ballarat electorate. 

The pay rise will be phased in over two years, and include a 10 per cent increase from December 2024, and a further 5 per cent increase from December 2025.

This means a typical ECEC educator who is paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of at least $103 per week, increasing to at least $155 per week from December 2025.

ECEC workers are some of the most important workers in our community and they deserve to be paid properly.

This $3.6 billion investment from the Government recognises the vital role that ECEC workers play preparing children for school.

To be eligible to receive funding for the wage increase, ECEC services won’t be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months and funding must be passed on in full to employees through increased wages.

Every day parents trust early educators with the most important thing in their world, and every day Australia asks early educators to do one of the most important jobs imaginable.

We are making sure those educators are better paid.

Quotes attributable to Member for Ballarat Catherine King:

"Early childhood educators do really important work in preparing children for school, and providing early intervention when kids need additional support. They’re also part of a workforce that has been neglected and taken for granted for far too long.

"This 15% pay rise will help to retain our early dedicated childhood education workforce and our Cheaper Child Care changes are easing cost of living pressures for families.

“This is a win for workers, a win for children and will help ease cost of living pressures for families in Ballarat and across the nation.”

Quotes attributable to Early Childhood Educator Hannah Kozaris:

“Childcare educators are passionate about what we do. We love our jobs and we love the families and children we work with every day. 

“But with the cost of living what it is, we’re losing staff members who are going to work in other industries where they can make the same amount of money in an easier job.

“This pay rise means that we’re being recognised for our work and it’ll encourage great educators to stay in the industry.”