The Children’s Services Award introduces a streamlined classification system and updated pay rates designed to better recognise the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities of early childhood educators. This is part of the Fair Work Commission’s gender-based undervaluation review, designed to properly recognise the professional expertise of early childhood educators and ensure fairer, more transparent career pathways across the sector.

According to the Children’s Services Award 2010, all employees fall under a classification structure, this determines their minimum wage. Each “level” gives a definition of what is expected of the employee, the qualifications required and the duties the employee should perform in order to be paid at that particular level. Below is the list of classifications for each level.

Is programming time included in your ordinary hours? Should you be paid overtime if a parent is running late to pick up a child? Staff meetings are compulsory, do you get paid?