No New Increase — 15% Grant Now Permanent

No new increase—15% grant uplift for early educators is now permanent, secured by legislation and tied to NQS compliance.

Educators have already been receiving a 15% uplift since 2024–2025 under a temporary government grant. The important change is that this uplift is no longer temporary. In August 2026, Parliament passed legislation to lock the 15% in permanently, so educators keep their current grant‑boosted wages rather than losing them after two years.

This is part of the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Bill 2026, backed by $3.6 billion in government funding.

Who Receives the Increase

This is not an extra 15% on top of what you already have. Instead, educators who were receiving the grant continue at those higher wage rates permanently.

Early childhood educators (Cert III, Diploma qualified).
Early childhood teachers (degree qualified).

Educators and ECT's covered under the Children’s Services Award or Educational Services (Teachers) Award in eligible services.

Which Services Are Eligible

The legislation ties the funding to National Quality Standard (NQS) compliance.

Meeting NQS – all standards satisfied.
Exceeding NQS – going above minimum requirements.
Working Towards / Significant Improvement Required – not eligible from July 2027 onwards.

What It Means in Real Pay

For educators already on the grant, these are the rates that are now permanent:

A full‑time educator: about $255 more per week.
A degree‑qualified teacher: about $410 more per week.

There is no “second” 15% increase—the change is that these grant‑boosted wages are now guaranteed permanently.

Why It’s Linked to NQS

The government has tied the permanent uplift to compliance to ensure funding supports safe, high‑quality services.

Encourages centres to maintain or lift standards.
Rewards educators in compliant services.
Keeps childcare affordable for families, as compliant centres have limits on fee increases.

From Grant to Legislation

2024–2025: Educators received a temporary 15% grant uplift.
August 2026: Parliament legislated to lock the 15% in permanently.
July 2027: Compliance condition enforced—services not meeting NQS will lose access until they improve.

The key point: educators already on the grant continue at their current wage rates permanently, rather than losing them after two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I already received the grant, do I get another increase?

No—the 15% you’ve been receiving since 2024–2025 is now permanent. You won’t see another 15% on top of that. The change is that your current grant‑boosted wages are secured by legislation, rather than ending after two years.

Does this apply to trainees?

Yes, once trainees complete their Certificate III and are employed under the Children’s Services Award, they are eligible if their service meets or exceeds NQS.

What if my service is rated “Working Towards NQS”?

Services rated Working Towards or Significant Improvement Required are not eligible from July 2027. Educators in those services will not receive the 15% unless the service improves its rating.

Is this a grant or bonus?

No — this is a permanent wage increase legislated by the government. It is not a one‑off grant or temporary payment.

Does this replace Award increases?

No—the 15% increase is on top of Award changes already staged through 2026–2029. Educators benefit from both the Award updates and the legislated uplift.

The 15% uplift you’ve been receiving since 2024–2025 is not a new increase; it's the same grant‑boosted wage rate, now locked in permanently by legislation. This means educators in services rated Meeting or Exceeding NQS can rely on their higher pay continuing into the future, rather than ending after two years.

Reference

15% Pay Rise For Early Educators Locked In | Ministers' Media Centre