union Educators WIN HISTORIC PAY RISE
United Workers Union early education members have shown once again that they’re a force to be reckoned with!
The new sector-wide Union Agreement offers a government-funded 15% pay increase for hundreds of thousands of Early Educators across Australia!
This wage rise is a life-changing opportunity and comes after years of tireless effort by union members to receive the pay and respect you deserve for the important work you do.
A Cert III Educator on the Children’s Services Award receiving the 15% pay rise is now about $11,000 a year better off than they were in 2024!
This victory is only possible because of the voices of our Union Members who advocated for better pay and a safer sector.
15% Pay Rise From the Union Agreement
The UWU agreement now covers over 500 early education providers lifting working standards for over 70,000 early educators! This is union power!
The fastest, simplest, and most dependable way to secure the first 15% government-funded pay increase is by making sure your employer signs the Union-Approved Agreement!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! Register your centre for the union-approved sector-wide agreement!
Did you receive the extra 5% in December?
If your centre signed on, then you should have received the first 10% in 2024, and an additional 5% in December 2025.
Now’s the time to see how much you should be paid, get answers to everything you’re curious about, and make sure you’re getting what you’re owed!
Download our Pay Guide, covering:
- An FAQ answering all of your questions regarding the December pay rise.
- A breakdown of the wage increases depending on your role, qualification and award classification
- A timeline showing exactly what dollar increase you should have received by July 1, and by December 2025
Get your personal Pay Projection now!
JOIN YOUR Early education UNION
Full 27% Gender Undervaluation Increase Locked In
The Fair Work Commission has officially locked in wage increases of up to 27% for Early Childhood Educators across Australia! This means an additional 12% Pay Rise alongside the already available 15%.
After decades of advocacy, UWU members have successfully proven what we’ve always known: early childhood educators have been systematically undervalued and underpaid due to gender-based inequality in our workforce.
The Commission Has Proposed:
- 1 March 2026 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2026 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2027 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2028 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2029 – Any Remainder
By November 2026, the Award still won’t have caught up to the Worker Retention Payment. For most educators, the gap will be small and will be short term, but any shortfall is too much.
Instead of delivering award rises before the grant ends in November 2026, as recommended by the Albanese government, the Fair Work Commission’s new plan leaves educators with a 5% pay gap for up to 7 months.
We are calling on the government to fix this now and make sure educators are given the pay they’re owed without delays!
This pay rise has been years in the making
UWU Educators made it happen
UWU Educators celebrating the pay rise announcement with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly, and Minister for Education Jason Clare.
What UWU members are saying about the pay rise
