Annual Wage Review 2026 decision to be live streamed on 2 June

The Fair Work Commission will hand down its Annual Wage Review 2026 decision at 10am AEST on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, with the announcement to be live streamed nationally.

The annual decision determines adjustments to the National Minimum Wage and minimum modern award wages, affecting millions of Australian workers and providing an important benchmark for employers, employees, unions and peak bodies.

For the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, the outcome will be closely watched given its potential impact on award-covered employees, wage budgets, workforce planning and broader cost-of-living discussions.

The Annual Wage Review is one of the most significant industrial relations decisions of the year.

Each year, the Commission considers a range of economic and social factors, including inflation, productivity, employment, business conditions, living standards and the needs of low-paid workers, before determining whether minimum wages should increase.

The decision applies to the National Minimum Wage and minimum rates in modern awards, including awards relevant to many employees working across education, care and support roles.

For ECEC providers, any increase to award wages can influence staffing costs, service budgets and financial planning for the new financial year.

At the same time, the outcome is also significant for educators and other award-covered employees navigating ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The 2026 decision comes during a period of heightened focus on wages, workforce sustainability and professional recognition across the early childhood sector.

In addition to the Annual Wage Review, many ECEC employers are also monitoring the Fair Work Commission’s gender-based undervaluation review, including staged changes affecting the Children’s Services Award.

Together, these decisions form part of a broader industrial and policy environment in which educator remuneration, retention and workforce attraction remain central issues for providers, governments and unions.

The Fair Work Commission will broadcast the Annual Wage Review 2026 decision through its official YouTube channel.

A direct link is also expected to be posted on the home page of the Fair Work Commission website shortly before the decision is handed down.

The announcement will be available for replay after the live stream.

Further details about the Annual Wage Review 2026, including submissions, research reports and procedural updates, are available on the Fair Work Commission website.