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Worker retention payment minimum rates

Providers who get the worker retention payment must pass funding on to eligible workers as a wage increase. This page outlines the minimum rates providers must pass on.

About the minimum rates

Providers who get the worker retention payment must pass funding on to eligible workers as a wage increase.

The rates on this page represent the amount that you must pass on to all eligible workers, even if you already pay above award.

The rates represent a 10% wage increase, payable from 2 December 2024 to 30 November 2025. Your workplace instrument must include an obligation to pay workers at least this amount in the first year of the worker retention payment.

We will update these amounts in December 2025 to reflect an additional 5% wage increase on the applicable award rates at that time. Your workplace instrument must provide for this increase in the second year of the worker retention payment.

The rates may also change in line with any increase to the award rates due to:

an annual wage review by the Fair Work Commission
outcomes of the gender undervaluation priority awards review.

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Children's Services Award 2010

The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Children’s Services Award 2010.

Column 5 is the minimum dollar amount that you must pass on to all eligible workers in the first year of the payment, even if you already pay above award.

Until 30 June 2025

Classification		Column 3 Current minimum hourly rate 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025	Column 4 New minimum hourly rate 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025	Column 5 Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025
		$	$	$
Support Worker
Level 1.1	On commencement	24.10	26.51	2.41
Level 2.1	On commencement	24.84	27.32	2.48
Level 2.2	After 1 year*	25.66	28.23	2.57
Level 3.1	On commencement	27.17	29.89	2.72
Children’s Services Employee
Level 1.1	On commencement	24.10	26.51	2.41
Level 2.1	On commencement	24.84	27.32	2.48
Level 2.2	After 1 year*	25.66	28.23	2.57
Level 3A.1**	On commencement	26.75	29.43	2.68
Level 3A.2**	After 1 year	27.17	29.89	2.72
Level 3.1	On commencement	27.17	29.89	2.72
Level 3.2	After 1 year*	28.1	30.91	2.81
Level 3.3	After 2 years*	28.99	31.89	2.90
Level 3.4 (Diploma)		30.59	33.65	3.06
Level 4A.1	On commencement	28.99	31.89	2.90
Level 4A.2	After 1 year*	29.39	32.33	2.94
Level 4A.3	After 2 years*	29.79	32.77	2.98
Level 4A.4	After 3 years*	30.21	33.23	3.02
Level 4A.5	After 4 years*	30.61	33.67	3.06
Level 4.1	On commencement	32	35.20	3.20
Level 4.2	After 1 year*	32.49	35.74	3.25
Level 4.3	After 2 years*	32.97	36.27	3.30
Level 5A.1	On commencement	33.46	36.81	3.35
Level 5A.2	After 1 year*	33.95	37.35	3.40
Level 5A.3	After 2 years*	34.43	37.87	3.44
Level 5.1	On commencement	33.46	36.81	3.35
Level 5.2	After 1 year*	33.95	37.35	3.40
Level 5.3	After 2 years*	34.43	37.87	3.44
Level 5.4***		34.55	38.01	3.46
Level 6A.1	On commencement	38.59	42.45	3.86
Level 6A.2	After 1 year*	39.07	42.98	3.91
Level 6A.3	After 2 years*	39.55	43.51	3.96
Children’s Services Employee—Director
Level 6.1	On commencement	38.59	42.45	3.86
Level 6.2	After 1 year*	39.07	42.98	3.91
Level 6.3	After 2 years*	39.55	43.51	3.96
Level 6.4	On commencement	41.02	45.12	4.10
Level 6.5	After 1 year*	41.4	45.54	4.14
Level 6.6	After 2 years*	41.89	46.08	4.19
Level 6.7	On commencement	42.39	46.63	4.24
Level 6.8	After 1 year *	42.88	47.17	4.29
Level 6.9	After 2 years*	43.36	47.70	4.34

_{*Reference to a year or years of service is to service in the industry}

_{**Former Western Australian ‘E’ worker classification}

_{***An Assistant Director who holds an Advanced Diploma (AQF 6/3 year qualified) must be paid no less than Level 5.4}

From 1 July 2025

Classification		Column 3 Current minimum hourly rate 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Nov 2025	Column 4 New minimum hourly rate 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Nov 2025	Column 5 Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Nov 2025
		$	$	$
Support Worker
Level 1.1	On commencement	24.95	27.45	2.50
Level 2.1	On commencement	25.71	28.28	2.57
Level 2.2	After 1 year*	26.56	29.22	2.66
Level 3.1	On commencement	28.12	30.93	2.81
Children’s Services Employee
Level 1.1	On commencement	24.95	27.45	2.50
Level 2.1	On commencement	25.71	28.28	2.57
Level 2.2	After 1 year*	26.56	29.22	2.66
Level 3A.1**	On commencement	27.68	30.45	2.77
Level 3A.2**	After 1 year	28.12	30.93	2.81
Level 3.1	On commencement	28.12	30.93	2.81
Level 3.2	After 1 year*	29.09	32.00	2.91
Level 3.3	After 2 years*	30	33.00	3.00
Level 3.4 (Diploma)		31.66	34.83	3.17
Level 4A.1	On commencement	30	33.00	3.00
Level 4A.2	After 1 year*	30.42	33.46	3.04
Level 4A.3	After 2 years*	30.83	33.91	3.08
Level 4A.4	After 3 years*	31.27	34.40	3.13
Level 4A.5	After 4 years*	31.68	34.85	3.17
Level 4.1	On commencement	33.12	36.43	3.31
Level 4.2	After 1 year*	33.63	36.99	3.36
Level 4.3	After 2 years*	34.13	37.54	3.41
Level 5A.1	On commencement	34.63	38.09	3.46
Level 5A.2	After 1 year*	35.14	38.65	3.51
Level 5A.3	After 2 years*	35.63	39.19	3.56
Level 5.1	On commencement	34.63	38.09	3.46
Level 5.2	After 1 year*	35.14	38.65	3.51
Level 5.3	After 2 years*	35.63	39.19	3.56
Level 5.4***		35.76	39.34	3.58
Level 6A.1	On commencement	39.94	43.93	3.99
Level 6A.2	After 1 year*	40.44	44.48	4.04
Level 6A.3	After 2 years*	40.93	45.02	4.09
Children’s Services Employee—Director
Level 6.1	On commencement	39.94	43.93	3.99
Level 6.2	After 1 year*	40.44	44.48	4.04
Level 6.3	After 2 years*	40.93	45.02	4.09
Level 6.4	On commencement	42.46	46.71	4.25
Level 6.5	After 1 year*	42.85	47.14	4.29
Level 6.6	After 2 years*	43.36	47.70	4.34
Level 6.7	On commencement	43.88	48.27	4.39
Level 6.8	After 1 year *	44.38	48.82	4.44
Level 6.9	After 2 years*	44.88	49.37	4.49

_{*Reference to a year or years of service is to service in the industry}

_{**Former Western Australian ‘E’ worker classification}

_{***An Assistant Director who holds an Advanced Diploma (AQF 6/3 year qualified) must be paid no less than Level 5.4}

Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020

The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020.

Column 4 is the minimum dollar amount that you must pass on to all eligible workers in the first year of the payment, even if you already pay above award.

Until 30 June 2025

Classification	Column 2 Current minimum hourly rate 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025	Column 3 New minimum hourly rate 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025	Column 4 Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff 2 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025
		$	$
Teachers – Long day care centres
Level 1	36.74	40.41	3.67
Level 2	40.16	44.17	4.02
Level 3	43.72	48.09	4.37
Level 4	47.28	52.00	4.73
Level 5	50.83	55.92	5.08
Teachers – Preschools and Schools
Level 1	35.33	38.86	3.53
Level 2	38.61	42.47	3.86
Level 3	42.03	46.24	4.20
Level 4	45.46	50.00	4.55
Level 5	48.88	53.77	4.89

From 1 July 2025

Classification	Column 2 Current minimum hourly rate 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Nov 2025	Column 3 New minimum hourly rate 1 Jul 2025– 30 Nov 2025	Column 4 Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Nov 2025
	$	$	$
Teachers – Long day care centres
Level 1	38.02	41.83	3.81
Level 2	41.56	45.72	4.16
Level 3	45.24	49.77	4.53
Level 4	48.93	53.82	4.89
Level 5	52.61	57.87	5.26
Teachers – Preschools and Schools
Level 1	36.56	40.22	3.66
Level 2	39.96	43.96	4.00
Level 3	43.51	47.86	4.35
Level 4	47.05	51.75	4.70
Level 5	50.59	55.65	5.06

Worker retention payment minimum rates

On this page:

About the minimum rates

Children's Services Award 2010

Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020

Acknowledgement of Country

Child Care Subsidy Provider Helpdesk

Get the latest updates

Worker retention payment minimum rates

On this page:

About the minimum rates

Children's Services Award 2010

Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020