Providers who get the worker retention payment must pass funding on to eligible workers as a wage increase. This page explains how to correctly pass on the payment.
On this page:
Minimum rate structure
The rates on this page:
- reflect a 10% wage increase above award rates
- will be updated to reflect an additional 5% increase from 1 December 2025.
Each classification includes 3 columns:
- the current minimum hourly rate under each award
- the new minimum hourly rate (currently 10% above award)
- the additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff – this is the minimum amount you must add to the current minimum hourly rate to meet the worker retention payment requirement.
How to apply the rates
From 2 December 2024 to 30 June 2025:
- you must pass on the additional minimum amount (right-hand column) to all eligible workers, even if you already pay above the award.
From 1 July 2025 to 30 November 2025:
- award rates increased on 1 July 2025 following the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review
- you no longer need to pass on the additional minimum amount (right-hand column) if you already pay at least 10% above the new award rate
- you may still choose to pass on the additional minimum hourly amount even if you already pay at least 10% above the new award rate
- all funding must be used for wages or eligible on-costs.
Rate adjustments
Rates may change due to:
- an annual wage review by the Fair Work Commission
- outcomes of the gender undervaluation priority awards review.
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Workplace instrument requirements
Your workplace instrument must:
- include an obligation to pay workers at least the minimum rates in the first year of the payment
- provide for an additional 5% increase in the second year of the payment.
Minimum rates by award
Children's Services Award 2010 (2 December 2024 to 30 June 2025)
The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Children’s Services Award 2010.
| Classification | Current minimum hourly rate | New minimum hourly rate | Additional minimum amount payable to staff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ per hour | $ per hour | $ per hour | ||
| 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* | 28.10 | 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 | 32.00 | 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* | 41.40 | 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
Children’s Services Award 2010 (1 July 2025 to 30 November 2025)
The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Children’s Services Award 2010.
| Classification | Current minimum hourly rate | New minimum hourly rate | Additional minimum amount payable to staff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ per hour | $ per hour | $ per hour | ||
| 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* | 30.00 | 33.00 | 3.00 |
| Level 3.4 (Diploma) | 31.66 | 34.83 | 3.17 | |
| Level 4A.1 | On commencement | 30.00 | 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 (2 December 2024 to 30 June 2025)
The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020.
| Classification | Current minimum hourly rate | New minimum hourly rate | Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ per hour | $ per hour | $ per hour | |
| 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 |
Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (1 July 2025 to 30 November 2025)
The below rates apply to workers covered by, or undertaking duties covered by, the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020.
| Classification | Current minimum hourly rate | New minimum hourly rate | Additional minimum hourly amount payable to staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ per hour | $ per hour | $ per hour | |
| 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 - Preschool 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 |
Examples to help you understand
Paying above the award but below the minimum hourly rate
Scenario: A small centre pays a level 3.1 Children’s Services Employee $29.50 per hour.
What happens:
- The current minimum hourly rate (award rate) is $28.12.
- The new minimum hourly rate (10% above award rate) is $30.93.
- Even though $29.50 is above the award, it’s not 10% above, so the centre must increase the wage to $30.93 per hour.
Takeaway: You must check whether your current rate is at least 10% above the award, not just above it.
Already paying more than required
Scenario: A long day care centre pays a level 4 teacher $55 per hour.
What happens:
- The current minimum hourly rate (award rate) is $48.93.
- The new minimum hourly rate (10% above award rate) is $53.82.
- Since $55 is more than 10% above the award, no change is required to account for the annual wage review.
Takeaway: If you already pay more than the minimum rate, you’re compliant, but you can still choose to pay staff the additional hourly amount on top.
Adjusting after the annual wage review
Scenario: A provider was paying a level 2.2 support worker $28.23 per hour between 2 December 2024 and 30 June 2025, in line with the minimum rate at that time.
What changed:
- On 1 July 2025, the award rate for level 2.2 increased from $25.66 to $26.56.
- The new minimum hourly rate (10% above award) is now $29.22 per hour.
What this means:
- The provider must now increase the worker’s pay to at least $29.22 per hour.
Takeaway: Even if you were meeting the minimum requirements before, you need to reassess pay rates after the annual wage review to ensure continued compliance.