Government set to pass signature early childhood education wages Bill, ministers say

The Albanese government’s plans to give early childhood educators a pay rise will be back on the agenda next week.

The government will be turning its attention on passing draft legislation on its Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill as the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Bill in the House of Representatives during sitting week.

The early childcare wages bill looks to give a 15 per cent raise over two years to early childhood educators who are paid at the award rate.

If passed, that would mean early educators could expect an increase of more than $100 per week in 2024 before their pay increases to more than an additional $150 per week from December 2025.

The extra wages will be funded through a special account that funds grants to early childhood education and care providers.

Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy would mean higher wages up for workers while also keeping prices down for families.

“The childcare debate is over – it’s not babysitting,” Mr Clare said.

“It’s early education and it’s critical to preparing children for school.

“They lift our kids up and now we are lifting their pay.

“A pay rise for every early childhood educator is good for our workforce, good for families and good our economy.”

However, the proposed legislation would require early childhood education and care services to agree to not to increase their fees above a fee constraint for the period they’re receiving funding between August 8, 2024, and August 7, 2025.

The proposed legislation comes as the government continues to reform the sector through its Cheaper Child Care policy.

Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly said the new measures would help benefit a wide number of Aussies doing it tough financially.

“We’re boosting the wages of early childhood education workers, while relieving cost of living pressures on Australian families,” Ms Aly said.

“Properly valuing the early childhood education and care workforce is crucial to attracting and retaining workers and vital to achieving the quality universal early learning sector Australian families deserve.”