Worker retention payment annual declaration form now open for providers

The Department of Education has confirmed that the Worker Retention Payment annual declaration form is now available for some early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers.

The declaration process is a key compliance step for services that received worker retention payments under the government initiative designed to recognise, support and retain the ECEC workforce. Providers who have received payments must ensure they meet reporting requirements to confirm that the funding has been correctly used and that all obligations to staff have been met.

Who needs to complete the declaration?

If your service received payments before 30 June 2025, you must complete and submit the annual declaration form by 10 October 2025. This requirement applies to all eligible providers across the ECEC sector.

For providers whose first payment was made after 30 June 2025, no action is required at this stage. These services will be required to submit until August 2026. 

How to complete the process

Approved providers can log in to the Grants Portal to check if the annual declaration form is available to them. Once available, the form must be completed and submitted within the deadline to ensure compliance and avoid disruption to future funding arrangements.

The Department has made clear that this declaration is not optional. It forms part of the program’s accountability framework and ensures that funding allocated for staff retention is used as intended.

Support available

To assist services, the Department has published tips outlining step-by-step instructions on how to complete the declaration. The guide includes:

• Details of what information providers will need to prepare
• Common reporting issues and how to avoid them
• A checklist of compliance requirements under the retention payment program

Providers are strongly encouraged to review this guidance before completing the declaration to ensure accuracy and reduce the likelihood of errors that may delay processing.

The worker retention payment initiative was introduced to support and retain educators and teachers in the ECEC sector, recognising the challenges of workforce shortages and high turnover. Accurate reporting and transparent use of these funds are essential to ensure that the initiative continues to deliver its intended benefits for the workforce and the families they support.

The annual declaration process also helps the government assess the effectiveness of the program, identify trends across the sector, and inform future workforce policy and funding decisions.

Key dates

• 30 June 2025 – cut-off date for determining whether providers are required to complete a declaration in this reporting period
• 10 October 2025 – deadline for submission of the annual declaration form (for services that received payments before 30 June 2025)

If you have questions or need more information about reporting requirements, contact [email protected].