A future worth building: Inside Australia’s early learning transformation

Australia’s commitment to universal early education is advancing, with improved educator wages, increased investment, and a focus on quality paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable early childhood system.

Minister Jess Walsh, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, recently shared reflections from her first week in the portfolio, highlighting firsthand conversations with educators that underscore the impact of recent government reforms.

A 15 per cent wage increase, already rolling out across the sector, is delivering real benefits for early childhood educators, many of whom have long struggled with low pay despite the critical nature of their work. For some, the change has meant newfound financial security and a renewed commitment to their careers in early learning.

The Minister notes a significant drop of 28 per cent in online job advertisements over the past year, signalling improved workforce retention. As educators gain confidence in the sector’s future, services can begin to stabilise staffing, strengthen continuity for children and families, and shift their attention to long-term planning.

At the policy level, the Federal Government’s 3 Day Guarantee which will remove the activity test for certain families is designed to broaden access to subsidised early education, ensuring more children benefit from quality learning experiences regardless of parental work or study status.

Infrastructure is also a key focus. More than $1 billion is being directed through the Building Early Education Fund to support expansion in areas of greatest need, including outer metropolitan and regional communities. New centres will be co-located with schools where possible and prioritise non-profit, high-quality providers.

Minister Walsh has also reaffirmed the Government’s intent to strengthen enforcement powers around provider quality. Services that repeatedly fail to meet regulatory standards may face restrictions on their ability to expand or receive public subsidy support.

Educators continue to call for a sector built on quality, equity and safety which underpins both learning outcomes for children and job satisfaction for professionals. With unified momentum and long-term structural change underway, early education appears set for a more stable and equitable future. 

Read the full article written by Minister Jess Walsh Federal Minister of Early Childhood Education, Women’s Agenda: ‘I can finally see a future’: On the path to universal early education