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.

Early childhood teachers across Victoria are sounding the alarm over new childcare reforms, warning that the changes are piling administrative burdens onto staff and eroding the joy of teaching.

An early learning centre in Mandurah, Western Australia, has been left devastated after an alleged arson attack caused extensive damage estimated at $500,000.

Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous cultures, with First Nations Peoples holding stories, knowledge, and connections to Country that stretch back more than 65,000 years. Now, educators and students can explore these stories in a new way through Deep Time, a digital resource created by the ABC Education team.

In a sector built on nurturing, empathy, and care, it’s heartbreaking to witness how often educators themselves are left feeling isolated, undervalued, or even bullied. On this World Kindness Day, let’s pause and remember: kindness isn’t just for children. It’s for us, too.

To Decision-Makers in Education and Care,

I write to you as an educator and advocate for the safety and well-being of children and staff in early childhood education.

A coalition of 55 early childhood experts has unveiled a bold six-point plan urging governments to take decisive action to restore public trust in Australia’s childcare system. Sparked by revelations from a year-long ABC investigation, the plan responds to widespread concerns about safety, quality, and transparency in early learning environments.