New Educational Leader wage allowance – How does it work?

With the recent announcement made by the Fair Work Commission that the Children’s Services Award would include a new educational leader allowance many early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals have had questions about how the allowance will be paid. 

The information below aims to provide some clarity about the allowance. 

For more detailed information readers are encouraged to refer to both the Award and the determination from Fair Work. 

• The allowance of $4,022.05 per annum will be paid to an educator who carries out responsibilities consistent with the title of educational leader. 

• As of 1 November 2022, the educational leader allowance will now be incorporated into the Children’s Services Award 2010. 

• Employees who are educational leaders and who are employed under the Children’s Services Award must be paid the annual allowance. The specific ruling is relevant only for educators who hold the position of educational leader and who are covered by the Award. 

• Early childhood teachers who are employed under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award (Teachers Award), will continue to receive the allowance under their award. 

If services choose, the allowance can be paid at a rate of $2.03 per hour (from 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2023). Part time employees can also receive the allowance, with Clause 15.4 outlining: 

‘where the employee is required to act as an educational leader for less than five (5) days per week, the annual allowance prescribed by clause 15.8(a) will be payable on a pro-rata basis calculated by reference to the number of days per week the employee is required to act as an educational leader.’ 

This means that an educator appointed to the role of educational leader will receive the annual allowance pro-rata based on the number of days per week they perform the role.  

For more information about the Allowance please see here.