Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has highlighted diversity as a “strength of modern Australia” during a visit to Melbourne’s south-east, as his government announced a $3.6 billion commitment to continue funding a pay rise for early childhood educators.
“Diversity is a strength of modern Australia. And no matter what language you speak, or faith you practice – every Australian deserves to feel safe, respected and valued.”
The Prime Minister’s comments came during a visit to Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Hampton Park, where he announced the continuation of a 15 per cent wage increase for eligible early childhood educators, alongside new conditions requiring childcare providers receiving the funding to meet national safety standards and limit fee increases.
The funding package will provide educators with up to $255 extra a week and is aimed at retaining workers in a sector that has faced longstanding workforce shortages.
In a press conference, Albanese said the investment would support families, workers and children, arguing that early childhood educators had been underpaid despite their role in children’s development.
“When we came to government, our child care sector was in crisis. People weren’t being paid enough, and people were leaving the sector.”
The Prime Minister said the government had sought to balance improved wages with affordability for families by linking funding support to limits on childcare fee increases.
“We’ve done it in a way as well so that caps are put on fee increases in the child care sector, meaning that this is good for families as well.”
Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy addressed three priorities: improving wages, keeping childcare costs under control and strengthening child safety.
“What we’re announcing today really is the trifecta. It’s about making sure that we pay our staff properly, that we keep fee increases as low as possible for mums and dads across the country, and that we make sure that we keep our kids safe.”
Clare said there were now 20,000 more people working in childcare centres compared with when the wage support was introduced 18 months ago, while workforce vacancy rates had fallen.
The government will require childcare centres receiving the wage funding to meet the National Safety Standard. Clare said about 95 per cent of centres currently met the standard, but the government wanted compliance to reach 100 per cent.
The announcement follows a series of concerns about child safety in early learning settings. Clare said additional measures, including mandatory training, a national register and CCTV trials, were part of broader efforts to improve protections.
“The truth is this work will never end and our greatest assets in places like this to keep our kids safe are the extraordinary workforce that we’ve got.”
Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh said the wage increase recognised the importance of educators who deliver early learning services across Australia.
“This announcement funds a $255 a week pay rise for our early childhood educators,” Walsh said, adding that educators had told her the increase was helping them remain in the profession.
Goodstart Early Learning chief executive Ros Baxter said higher wages were important for recognising educators’ work and maintaining stability for children.
United Workers Union national president Jo Schofield welcomed the funding commitment, saying early childhood educators had campaigned for improved recognition and pay over many years.
The announcement comes as the federal government continues discussions about the future structure of Australia’s early childhood education system, including reforms being considered following a Productivity Commission review.
The Prime Minister said the government would continue focusing on policies aimed at reducing financial pressure on households, including childcare support, tax cuts and education initiatives.
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