Celebrating a historic pay rise for early childhood educators

Last December 2025, early childhood educators received a 5 per cent pay rise, fully delivering a 15 per cent pay rise. This is equivalent to an extra $200 a week. Parbery is proud to have a role in this historic pay rise recognising the value of our educators.

Parbery supported the Department of Education in the delivery of the Early Childhood Education and Care Worker Retention Payment grant since September 2024. The Worker Retention Payment is a Commonwealth Government grant program that provides funding to approved providers to deliver a 15 per cent wage increase above award rates to eligible workers for the period 2 December 2024 to 30 November 2026, with committed funding of up to $3.6 billion.

Parbery supported the initial planning and establishment of the grant program, ensuring that systems, processes, and program design were effectively developed and operationally ready ahead of provider applications opening in October 2024.

Throughout the implementation phase, Parbery has assisted the Department with the assessment of grant applications and the successful execution of grant agreements with providers, enabling early childhood educators to receive a well-deserved wage increase.

Parbery has continued to support the Department through the ongoing delivery of the program, including the development and implementation of processes for grant agreements, variations, and funding reviews. This support ensures that providers entering into agreements with the Commonwealth are appropriately supported and receive adequate funding to meet their workforce obligations.

Parbery remains committed to supporting the Department of Education across the full lifecycle of the grant program and will continue to provide targeted and responsive grant administration support.