Wage boost brings relief to early childhood educators and frontline workers

Early childhood educators and other frontline workers have benefited from a 3.5 per cent rise to minimum and award wages that came into effect from 1 July, with the Federal Government highlighting the change as a crucial step to address cost-of-living pressures and support long-term workforce retention.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth confirmed the increase at a press conference in Adelaide, noting the rise would deliver an extra $1,700 a year for full-time minimum wage workers, alongside an increase to the superannuation guarantee, which will lift to 12 per cent from 1 July.

“These are the people that keep our communities going, educators, retail workers, hospitality workers and they deserve a real wage increase,” Ms Rishworth said.

Standing alongside Ms Rishworth, early childhood educator Divyansh welcomed the announcement, describing the increase as a much-needed recognition of the profession’s value.

“As early childhood educators, we’ve been underpaid and undervalued for too long,” Divyansh said. “This rise, especially being above the rate of inflation, shows that the work we do caring for and educating children matters, and that we deserve to live with dignity.”

Divyansh said that over recent years, many early childhood educators had considered leaving the sector due to low pay and rising costs, threatening the stability of early learning services that families rely on.

“This will help me stay in the sector and continue the work I love,” Divyansh said. “An extra $150 a week will help with rent, groceries and cost-of-living pressures that have made it tough to keep going.”

Retail worker Cayla Humphries also spoke of the significance of the wage increase, saying the additional income would help her save towards long-term goals like buying a home and living more comfortably.

“Being able to put away money for the future is huge for young people like me,” Ms Humphries said. “For a long time, it felt impossible to get ahead.”

Ms Rishworth said the increase was part of the Government’s broader commitment to lift wages, protect workplace conditions, and improve retirement savings for workers.

In addition to supporting the Fair Work Commission’s minimum wage decision, the Government has pledged to legislate to protect penalty rates in awards, ban restrictive non-compete clauses, and safeguard paid parental leave entitlements in cases of stillbirth or early childhood loss.

“These are practical reforms that help working Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn,” Ms Rishworth said. “Our priority has been to deliver on what we promised at the election, getting wages moving, protecting penalty rates and ensuring workplace laws support secure, fair employment.”

Ms Rishworth noted that while the Government would continue to consider ideas raised by employers, unions and the community, its immediate focus was on fulfilling its election commitments to improve wages and conditions across the workforce.

“This minimum wage increase, alongside stronger super and better protections for penalty rates, is a big step towards making work fairer and more sustainable, particularly for frontline workers who kept the community going through challenging times,” she said.

For more details, visit the Minister’s media release.