Media Release: Federal government funding boost locks in pay rises for long day care staff
The IEU welcomes the federal Labor government’s doubling of its investment in the long day care sector with a further $3.6 billion that guarantees pay rises gained over 2024-2025 will stay in place until 2028.
“This is great news for the long day care workforce who deliver high-quality early learning,” said Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews. “They are no longer facing a pay cut later this year that would have seen many leave the sector.”
A historic ECEC win has been protected: the federal government has confirmed it is locking funding for pay rises for ECEC workers
The Federal ALP Government’s confirmation of a further $3.6 billion investment over the next two years to secure Early Childhood Education Worker Retention Payments is greatnews for the ECEC workforce and for the delivery of high-quality early learning.
This commitment locks in the historic 15 per cent pay rise won through the sector’s first multi-employer union agreement in 2024 and provides the financial certainty that the sector has been urgently seeking. Since its commencement in 2024, the multi-employer agreement has expanded to cover 200,000 workers across more than 10,000 providers.
For too long, poor wages and conditions have driven skilled workers out of early learning. This funding will help deliver sustained change by improving workforce retention, better valuing ECEC workers and addressing staff shortages across the sector.
Importantly, the government investment and union collective agreement underpin the sustainability of a quality ECEC workforce. A stable and fairly paid workforce is essential to delivering the early learning environments Australian children and families deserve.
What is the WRP?
Teachers and educators in Long Day Care and OOSH have won a 15% pay rise funded by the government.
This pay rise is known as the ECEC Worker Retention Payment Scheme (WRP) and is fully funded by the federal government.
This pay rise, fought for by unions, comes as part of a historic multi-enterprise agreement. Since it began in 2024, the agreement has expanded to cover 200,000 workers across more than 10,000 providers.
WRP resources
We have resources available to ensure you have all the info you need to understand the WRP.
We’re stronger together
The IEU is the union for university-qualified teachers in the early childhood education and care sector. Join thousands of your colleagues fighting for a stronger, fairer early education sector.
