The Department has released an end‑of‑year update on the Worker Retention Payment, including important information about the gender‑based undervaluation review, payment processing, and deadlines for backdated funding reviews. Services currently participating or considering applying are encouraged to review the details below.

The past year in early childhood education has been one of the most confronting, transformative, and clarifying periods our sector has faced in a long time. It was a year where long‑standing cracks became impossible to ignore, where long‑awaited reforms finally began to move, and where educators, leaders, and families continued to show extraordinary resilience in the face of relentless pressure.

From wage reform to compliance shifts, from safeguarding failures to renewed conversations about purpose, 2025 forced us to look closely at what we value, what we tolerate, and what we refuse to carry forward. And through it all, the heart of the sector the people who show up for children every day continued to hold communities together with professionalism, care, and courage.

Here’s a look back at the year that shaped us.

The idea of $10‑a‑day childcare sounds appealing, especially for families struggling with the cost of living. But a new report commissioned by the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) warns that the funding model behind this proposal could have serious consequences for educators, staffing levels, and the quality of early learning.

This article breaks down what the report is saying in a way that’s clear, practical, and relevant to the people who feel these changes first: educators.

At the centre of this case is an incident captured on CCTV at an early learning service in Bathurst, where 18‑year‑old educator Hayley Kelleher grabbed and dragged a three‑year‑old boy by the arm during rest time. The child was not injured, but the action breached expected standards of conduct and resulted in a conviction for common assault. What the court documents also reveal, however, is that Kelleher was visibly overwhelmed, repeatedly sought help from a senior colleague, and was ignored—leaving a young, inexperienced educator to manage a high‑pressure situation entirely on her own.

The Fair Work Commission has introduced important changes to how cooks are classified and paid under the Children's Services Award 2010. These changes recognise that many cooks in early childhood settings perform responsibilities that go beyond food preparation and contribute directly to children's care and safety.

Over the next five years, educators across the sector will see steady, structured wage increases designed to lift pay to the new benchmark rates for each qualification level. These increases begin with a 5% rise in March 2026, followed by annual increases each 30 June, and finish with a small top‑up adjustment in the final year to ensure every educator reaches their correct new classification rate.

On 10 December 2025, the Fair Work Commission issued a major determination affecting the Children’s Services Award 2010 (MA000120). These changes form part of the Gender-Based Undervaluation Priority Review, recognising long‑standing inequities in early childhood. 

The updated award will come into operation on 1 March 2026 and will apply from the first full pay period on or after that date.

This article breaks down the key changes so educators, cooks, support workers, room leaders, and directors can understand what the new structure means for them.

Regulatory authorities across Australia have identified staffing as a priority area, with a strong focus on ensuring educators hold valid, authentic qualifications. Unfortunately, fraudulent certificates continue to circulate, and some are sophisticated enough to fool even experienced leaders.

***WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT***

Victorian detectives have laid 83 additional charges against former Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, expanding the total number of alleged offences to 156. The new charges stem from the identification of four additional alleged victims, alongside further offences connected to the eight children previously identified earlier this year. Health authorities have confirmed that no further child testing is required, and no new childcare centres have been flagged as concerning in relation to the latest charges.

In April 2025, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) issued a provisional decision recommending staged award increases to address the undervaluation of early childhood educators; however, a final ruling has not yet been handed down.