17 June, 2026
Funding the wage increase for early childhood education and care workers will help keep early education accessible for working families and ensure primary carers can continue to participate in the economy.
Chief Executive Women (CEW) has welcomed the Federal Government's $3.6 billion commitment to lock in the 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, ahead of the Worker Retention Payment's expiry in November [1].
CEW CEO Lisa Annese AM said decent pay for early educators was essential to a strong and stable workforce, and to the children and families who depend on the sector.
"Early educators help support children's learning in the most important early stages of life. They deserve decent pay for the vital work they do," Ms Annese said.
"Decent pay for educators is key to addressing staffing shortages in early education, which flow through to workforce participation and productivity across the economy.
"When services are understaffed or inaccessible, it is primary carers, predominantly women, who bear the cost through reduced hours or withdrawal from the workforce entirely.
"This commitment protects the wages of workers in a sector where more than 90 per cent of the workforce are women. Adequately valuing the care economy is central to closing the gender pay gap."
Ms Annese said tying the funding to limits on fee increases would keep early learning affordable for the families whose participation depends on it.
"By locking in this pay rise, the Government has taken an important step towards a universal system. Sustaining this investment will help grow a professional sector that attracts both men and women," Ms Annese said.
CEW also welcomed the extension of the payment to the Family Day Care and In-Home Care sectors, and the move to tie funding to national safety standards.
CEW has long advocated for a universal early childhood education and care system, supported by decent pay for educators. It plays a crucial role in children's development, women's economic participation and the strength of the national economy.
CEW continues to call for an independent ECEC Commission, a national childcare educator register, and stronger quality assurance and reporting mechanisms to underpin a safe, high quality and sustainable sector.
[1] Childcare workers scrap walk-off as government commits to pay rise extension – ABC News
Media Contact:
Mayank Gurnani
E: mgurnani@cew.org.au
M: +61414463827
About Chief Executive Women
Since 1985, Chief Executive Women (CEW) has influenced and engaged all levels of Australian business and government to remove the barriers to women's progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. CEW's 1,400 members represent Australia's most senior and distinguished leaders across the country's largest private and public organisations, collectively overseeing over 1.3 million employees and $749 billion in revenue.
