{"id":61579,"date":"2025-05-08T13:15:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T03:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/?page_id=61579"},"modified":"2025-12-11T11:14:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T00:14:03","slug":"ecec-fact-check-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/ecec-fact-check-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"ECEC | Fact Check \/ FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

EARLY EDUCATOR PAY RISE FACT CHECK<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More About the Pay Rise<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRequest a Callback<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
What makes up the pay rise? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

15% of your hard-earned pay rise comes from the historic sector-wide Union agreement and Worker Retention Grant. An additional 3.5% comes from the annual award-based wage review, fought for by Union members.\u00a0<\/p>

Our wage table has more detail and specific rates. Most educators are earning $11,000+ a year more than they were in 2024!<\/strong><\/p>

  • 10% increase in December 2024<\/li>
  • 3.5% increase in July 2025<\/li>
  • 5% increase in December 2025.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
    How much will my wage increase? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    In total this year, most educators will receive a pay rise of more than $10,000! Union members have fought
    hard for this pay rise and educators deserve every cent! Your wage increase depends on your qualification, role and years of service. Our projected wage table below has more detail and shows you just what impact these pay rises have on your hourly, weekly and annual salary.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
    I\u2019m still waiting for the 10% increase - when will I receive it? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    The 10% increase started in December 2024<\/strong> for educators covered by the Worker Retention Grant. If your employer signed up for the grant, you should already see this in your pay. If you don\u2019t:<\/p>

    • Ask your employer for confirmation<\/li>
    • Contact the Union for help<\/li><\/ul>

      At first, the Department took a while to process applications, but then some employers delayed passing the increase on or didn\u2019t even apply at all. If you think this has happened, join the Union and get support now.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
      What\u2019s the difference between the 15%, and the 2026 award increase? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      The 15% Worker Retention Grant came in two parts.<\/p>

      • 10% in December 2024.<\/li>
      • 5% in December 2025.<\/li><\/ul>

        Award increases: Permanent changes to minimum pay rates starting January 2026.<\/p>

        The 15% is a temporary payment due to end in November 2026. The plan is for the Award rate to match the 15% by this time, so that no educator will go backwards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

        \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
        What happens in November 2026 when the Worker Retention Grant ends? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        The government has told the Fair Work Commission that wages in the Children\u2019s Services Award should go up like this:<\/span><\/p>

        • 5% increase in January 2026
          <\/span><\/li>
        • 10% increase in December 2026
          <\/span><\/li>
        • More increases in 2028 and 2029 up to 23% – depending on your classification<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

          This means by the time the Worker Retention Grant ends on 30 November 2026<\/strong>, the Award will have gone up by 15%, matching the grant increase. The government\u2019s plan is designed so educators don\u2019t lose pay when the grant finishes. While the final decision isn\u2019t made yet, this proposal is a strong sign that the 15% increase will be locked into the Award. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

          \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
          Why isn\u2019t every educator receiving the same pay increase? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

          Not all employers signed up for the Union-won 15% worker retention grant.<\/p>

          • The 15 % increase comes from the Worker Retention Grant and applies to employers who signed up to the
            grant. Union members across thousands of centres have campaigned successfully for their employer to sign up this year and by December, those educators will be $10,000 better off. If you want to make sure you get better wages \u2013 join your Union today.<\/li>
          • The Award increases start in 2026 and apply to everyone covered by the Award. The plan is for the award to eventually match the wages of educators on the 15% Union pay increase. This is a huge win and only happened because of the hard work of Union members.<\/li><\/ul>

            If you\u2019re not sure which applies to you, contact your Union.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
            I\u2019m on the multi-employer agreement; will I get a pay increase next year? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

            Over 45,000 educators across 500 employers are on the multi-employer agreement. It is the biggest sector
            wide agreement ever. This agreement is due for renegotiation in November 2026, giving Union members another chance to win even better wages and conditions. The more members there are the more educators
            can win.<\/p>

            If you are part of the sector agreement, depending on your current wages, you could see another increase in
            July 2026 from the annual wage review – this is something Union members fight for every year. Last year the majority of educators covered by the sector agreement got a 3.5% increase.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t