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.

This staged approach gives educators a clear, predictable pathway to their new pay level and ensures that both Certificate III and Diploma‑qualified educators move confidently toward the final correct rate by 30 June 2029.

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.

This article gives you a clear, practical guide to:

• How to verify qualifications
• Common red flags to watch for
• How to check an RTO properly
• What to do if you suspect or confirm a fake qualification
• How to strengthen your recruitment process

***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.

Recent commentary has highlighted a striking statistic: 90% of new childcare providers in Australia are run for profit. This raises a fundamental question is this really how we want to run education in Australia? Early childhood education and care is the foundation of lifelong learning. Yet, unlike primary and secondary schooling, it is increasingly dominated by private operators whose business models prioritise revenue. The debate is not simply about economics; it is about values, equity, and the future of children’s education.

The Australian Government is rolling out unannounced spot checks across Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services nationwide. This follows a successful pilot in October–November 2025. The program is designed to strengthen compliance, lift standards, and give families confidence that services are safe, high-quality, and correctly administering the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

Caring for and teaching children is some of the most important work in the country. For decades, early childhood educators have carried this responsibility without fair recognition in their pay. The federal government’s announcement of a 15% increase was heralded as a “historic pay rise.” But in reality, this measure is a temporary grant, not a permanent reform.