join the national walk off to secure educators pay rise
Let's fight to keep what we deserve
The Albanese Government has failed to provide ongoing funding for our 15% pay rise in the federal budget. This means that almost all educators face a “pay cliff” of between 4 -15% in pay cuts when the existing 15% pay rise expires in December.
We fought hard for a 15% pay rise and we cannot afford to go backwards.
Thousands of you signed the letter to the minister’s office and our claim calling on the Federal Government to lock in the funding.
We gave them every chance to act.
Now educators across the country have come together and voted to walk off the job on July 15 to demand a pay rise that lasts beyond November.
SECURE THE 15% Pay Rise
securing a pay rise through the union agreement
The sector-wide Union Agreement has delivered a government-funded 15% pay increase for hundreds of thousands of Early Educators across Australia!
The UWU agreement now covers over 500 early education providers lifting working standards for over 70,000 early educators. This is union power!
Download our Pay Guide, covering:
- An FAQ answering all of your questions regarding the pay increases.
- A breakdown of the wage increases depending on your role, qualification and award classification
- A timeline showing exactly what dollar increase you should expect by which date
Get your personal Pay Projection now
JOIN YOUR Early education UNION
The Gender Undervaluation Increase Explained
After decades of advocacy, UWU members have successfully proven what we’ve always known: early childhood educators have been systematically undervalued and underpaid due to gender-based inequality in our workforce.
The Fair Work Commission has officially locked in wage increases of up to 27% for Early Childhood Educators across Australia! This means an additional 12% Pay Rise alongside the already available 15%.
The Commission Has Proposed:
- 1 March 2026 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2026 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2027 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2028 – up to 5%
- 30 June 2029 – Any Remainder
By November 2026, the Award still won’t have caught up to the Worker Retention Payment. Instead of delivering award rises before the grant ends in November 2026, as recommended by the Albanese government, the Fair Work Commission’s new plan leaves educators with a 5% pay gap for up to 7 months.
We are calling on the government to fix this now and make sure educators are given the pay they’re owed without delays!
This pay rise has been years in the making
The life-changing wage rise comes after years of tireless effort by union members to receive the pay and respect you deserve for the important work you do.
A Cert III Educator on the Children’s Services Award receiving the 15% pay rise is now about $11,000 a year better off than they were in 2024!
This victory is only possible because of the voices of our Union Members who advocated for better pay and a safer sector.
UWU Educators made it happen
