Media release
27 November 2024
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the passing of the Wage Justice for ECEC Workers (Special Account) Bill in the Senate last night. This legislation supports the government’s delivery of a 15% wage increase for early childhood educators across Australia, phased over the next two years.
From Canberra, ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death said that this new legislation, together with the Albanese Government’s investment in wages for our sector, is an important step in recognising the value of the early learning and care workforce.
‘Early childhood educators have one of the most important roles in the country, and deserve to be recognised and rewarded for their skill and dedication supporting the learning and development of our youngest Australians’, Ms Death said. ‘An increase in wages will make a big difference in retaining and attracting early childhood educators, to ensure we have a strong and skilled workforce into the future’.
ELACCA urges the Australian Government to provide an ongoing commitment to invest in wages for our workforce, beyond the current two-year commitment, and advocates for additional government co-investment to ensure pay parity with the school sector.
‘We congratulate Ministers Clare and Aly on this important legislation, and look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure every Australian child has access to high-quality early learning and care, delivered by a qualified, skilled and deeply valued workforce,’ Ms Death said.
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For more information please contact:
Sally Maddison
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia
PO Box 348
Annandale NSW 2038
Mob: 0498 228 762
About us:
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,017 long day care services, 320 preschool/kindergarten services and 88 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 232,978 children and their families, and employ more than 59,000 staff.
As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public.
