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KU sets a new benchmark with Children’s Services and Administrative Employees and Cooks enterprise agreement
Fiona Alston
Oct 14, 2025
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KU Children’s Services has reaffirmed its reputation as a sector leader with the approval of the KU Children’s Services and Administrative Employees and Cooks Enterprise Agreement 2024–2026. The new agreement, endorsed by an overwhelming 96.9 per cent “yes” vote, delivers some of the most comprehensive pay and conditions in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector.
The near-unanimous endorsement reflects KU’s strong culture and commitment to its people. It also signals sector-wide progress, demonstrating how quality outcomes for children and families are directly supported by investment in educators and staff.This new agreement builds on KU’s strong track record of sector leadership in workforce conditions. In July 2025, KU finalised its Teachers’ Enterprise Agreement, which delivered significant improvements for early childhood teachers, including enhanced pay scales and recognition of professional responsibilities.
Together, the two agreements represent a comprehensive commitment across KU’s workforce from service-based educators and teachers through to administrative staff and cooks. By lifting conditions across all roles, KU is ensuring that every member of its team is supported to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families.
The 2024–2026 Agreement introduces a suite of significant improvements designed to support the wellbeing, inclusion and professional recognition of KU’s workforce. These include:
- Annual 4% salary increases through to 2026
- Expanded salary steps for Certificate III and Diploma-qualified educators, providing greater scope for progression
- Additional recognition for senior supervising Diploma-qualified educators
- Staff discount on long day care (LDC) fees
- Increased child-free days for programming and planning
- Paid parental leave extended to 15 weeks
- New provisions for leave in the event of stillbirth or miscarriage
- Introduction of gender affirmation leave
- Paid disaster, emergency and pandemic leave
Taken together, these benefits ensure KU staff have access to some of the most progressive and inclusive employment conditions in the sector.
KU has a long-standing reputation as an employer of choice, recognised for nine consecutive years. The new agreement further embeds this standing, placing diversity, inclusion and whole-of-person wellbeing at the heart of its approach.
By introducing leave for pregnancy loss and gender affirmation, alongside expanded parental leave, KU acknowledges the diverse experiences of its workforce. This approach aligns with ACECQA’s ongoing emphasis on educator wellbeing and workforce stability as central to the National Quality Framework (NQF).
The new conditions add to an already impressive suite of benefits at KU, which include:
- Access to exclusive retail discounts
- A dedicated health and wellbeing portal
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- Recognition as a Great Place to Work
- Sector leading staff retention rates
These factors combine to ensure KU remains an organisation where teachers, educators and staff are supported to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Workforce challenges remain one of the biggest issues facing the ECEC sector. With this agreement, KU has again demonstrated sector leadership, setting a clear benchmark for pay, progression and wellbeing that others may look to follow.
For teachers, educators and staff, KU represents more than just a workplace, it is an organisation committed to respect, recognition and long-term career pathways.
To learn more about why KU should be your next career step, and to explore the benefits of working with one of the sector’s most respected organisations, connect with KU’s specialist Careers Team today.
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