The minimum pay rates providers must pass on to eligible workers to meet worker retention payment conditions.
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About this page
This page provides a simple guide to the rates you must pay eligible workers if you receive the worker retention payment. It contains the rates you currently need to pay workers to meet conditions. These rates apply from 1 July 2026.
For more detailed information, including how rates are calculated and applied, refer to the grant guidelines. The guidelines contain additional information about:
- classification levels
- award coverage
- rate calculations
- transition arrangements
- Annual Wage Review interactions
- historical rates.
All grantees must read and become familiar with the grant guidelines.
How to use this page
1. Choose the award that covers the worker
Use the table that applies to the worker:
- Children's Services Award 2010 – workers engaged on or before 28 February 2026
- Children's Services Award 2010 – workers engaged on or after 1 March 2026
- Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020
2. Find the worker’s classification
3. Check the minimum hourly rate
Use the minimum hourly rate column to check the total minimum hourly rate the worker must be paid.
4. Check the WRP contribution
Use one of the WRP contribution columns to check the minimum amount of grant funding that must be passed on as wages. Use the:
- standard amount column for workers whose hourly rate on 30 June 2026 was below the new minimum hourly rate from 1 July 2026
- already paying minimum hourly rate column for workers whose hourly rate on 30 June 2026 was at or above the new minimum hourly rate from 1 July 2026.
Check the previous hourly rates in the grant guidelines.
Do I need to add the WRP contribution to the minimum hourly rate?
You must pay each eligible worker at least the minimum hourly rate and pass on the required WRP contribution.
The WRP contribution can count towards the minimum hourly rate, provided it is not used to subsidise your existing wages (except as outlined in section 5.3 of the grant guidelines).
If you already pay a worker above the minimum hourly rate, you may need to further increase their wages to ensure the required WRP contribution is passed on. Refer to the grant guidelines for certainty.
Why are there two WRP contribution columns?
Workers who were already being paid at or above the applicable minimum hourly rate before 1 July 2026 are not entitled to a pay increase as a result of the Annual Wage Review. In these cases, the WRP contribution amount may remain unchanged.
Children’s Services Award 2010 – workers engaged on or before 28 February 2026
| Classification on 28 February 2026 | Classification from 1 March 2026 | Minimum hourly rate workers must be paid (including WRP-funded increase) | WRP contribution (standard amount) | WRP contribution (if already paying at or above minimum hourly rate on 30 June 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support worker | ||||
| Level 1.1 – On commencement | No change | $30.41 | $3.97 | $3.74 |
| Level 2.1 – On commencement | No change | $30.97 | $4.04 | $3.86 |
| Level 2.2 – After 1 year* | No change | $31.99 | $4.17 | $3.98 |
| Level 3.1 – On commencement | No change | $33.87 | $4.42 | $4.22 |
| Children’s Services Employee | ||||
| Level 1.1 – On commencement | Level 1 – Introductory Educator | $30.06 | $3.92 | $3.74 |
| Level 2.1 – On commencement | Level 2 – Educator | $30.97 | $4.04 | $3.86 |
| Level 2.2 – After 1 year* | Level 2 – Educator | $31.99 | $4.17 | $3.98 |
| Level 3A.1** – On commencement | Level 2 – Educator | $33.34 | $4.35 | $4.15 |
| Level 3A.2** – After 1 year | Level 2 – Educator | $33.87 | $4.42 | $4.22 |
| Level 3.1 – On commencement | Level 3 – Qualified Educator | $33.87 | $4.42 | $4.22 |
| Level 3.2 – After 1 year* | Level 3 – Qualified Educator | $35.04 | $4.57 | $4.36 |
| Level 3.3 – After 2 years* | Level 3 – Qualified Educator | $36.14 | $4.71 | $4.50 |
| Level 3.3 – with less than 4 years’ experience at Level 3 | Level 3 – Qualified Educator | $36.14 | $4.71 | $4.50 |
| Level 3.3 – with 4+ years at Level 3 | Level 4 – Experienced Educator | $36.14 | $4.71 | $4.50 |
| Level 3.4 (Diploma) | Level 5 – Advanced Educator | $38.14 | $4.97 | $4.75 |
| Level 4A.1 – On commencement | Level 6 – Room Leader | $36.14 | $4.71 | $4.50 |
| Level 4A.2 –After 1 year* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $36.64 | $4.78 | $4.56 |
| Level 4A.3 – After 2 years* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $37.14 | $4.84 | $4.62 |
| Level 4A.4 – After 3 years* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $37.67 | $4.91 | $4.69 |
| Level 4A.5 – After 4 years* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $38.16 | $4.98 | $4.75 |
| Level 4.1 – On commencement | Level 6 – Room Leader | $39.90 | $5.20 | $4.97 |
| Level 4.2 – After 1 year* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $40.51 | $5.28 | $5.04 |
| Level 4.3 – After 2 years* | Level 6 – Room Leader | $41.11 | $5.36 | $5.12 |
| Level 5A.1 – On commencement | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $41.72 | $5.44 | $5.19 |
| Level 5A.2 – After 1 year* | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $42.33 | $5.52 | $5.27 |
| Level 5A.3 – After 2 years* | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $42.92 | $5.60 | $5.34 |
| Level 5.1 – On commencement | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $41.72 | $5.44 | $5.19 |
| Level 5.2 – After 1 year* | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $42.33 | $5.52 | $5.27 |
| Level 5.3 – After 2 years* | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $42.92 | $5.60 | $5.34 |
| Level 5.4*** | Level 7 – Assistant Director | $43.08 | $5.62 | $5.36 |
| Level 6A.1 – On commencement | Level 8 – Director | $48.11 | $6.28 | $5.99 |
| Level 6A.2 – After 1 year* | Level 8 – Director | $48.72 | $6.35 | $6.07 |
| Level 6A.3 – After 2 years* | Level 8 – Director | $49.31 | $6.43 | $6.14 |
| Children’s Services Employee – Director | ||||
| Level 6.1 – On commencement | Level 8 – Director | $48.11 | $6.28 | $5.99 |
| Level 6.2 – After 1 year* | Level 8 – Director | $48.72 | $6.35 | $6.07 |
| Level 6.3 – After 2 years* | Level 8 – Director | $49.31 | $6.43 | $6.14 |
| Level 6.4 – On commencement | Level 8 – Director | $51.15 | $6.67 | $6.37 |
| Level 6.5 – After 1 year* | Level 8 – Director | $51.62 | $6.73 | $6.43 |
| Level 6.6 – After 2 years* | Level 8 – Director | $52.23 | $6.81 | $6.50 |
| Level 6.7 – On commencement | Level 8 – Director | $52.86 | $6.89 | $6.58 |
| Level 6.8 – After 1 year* | Level 8 – Director | $53.04 | $6.92 | $6.66 |
| Level 6.9 – After 2 years* | Level 8 – Director | $53.04 | $6.92 | $6.73 |
* 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.
Notes: Section 4.3 of the grant guidelines addresses interactions with the Annual Wage Review. Grant funding cannot be used to subsidise current wage expenditure except as outlined in section 5.3.
Children’s Services Award 2010 – workers engaged on or after 1 March 2026
| Classification from 1 March 2026 | Minimum hourly rate workers must be paid (including WRP-funded increase) | WRP contribution (standard amount) | WRP contribution (if already paying at or above minimum hourly rate on 30 June 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support worker | |||
| Level 1.1 – On commencement | $30.41 | $3.97 | $3.74 |
| Level 2.1 – On commencement | $30.97 | $4.04 | $3.86 |
| Level 2.2 – After 1 year* | $31.99 | $4.17 | $3.98 |
| Level 3.1 – On commencement | $33.87 | $4.42 | $4.22 |
| Children’s Services Employee | |||
| Level 1 – Introductory Educator | $30.06 | $3.92 | $3.74 |
| Level 2 – Educator | $30.97 | $4.04 | $3.86 |
| Level 3 – Qualified Educator | $33.87 | $4.42 | $4.22 |
| Level 4 – Experienced Educator | $36.14 | $4.71 | $4.50 |
| Level 5 – Advanced Educator | $38.14 | $4.97 | $4.75 |
| Level 6 – Room Leader | $39.90 | $5.20 | $4.97 |
| Level 7 – Assistant Director | $41.72 | $5.44 | $5.19 |
| Level 8 – Director | $48.11 | $6.28 | $5.99 |
* Reference to a year or years of service is to service in the industry.
Notes: Section 4.3 of the grant guidelines addresses interactions with the Annual Wage Review. Grant funding cannot be used to subsidise current wage expenditure except as outlined in section 5.3.
Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020
| Classification | Minimum hourly rate workers must be paid (including WRP-funded increase) | WRP contribution (standard amount) | WRP contribution (if already paying minimum hourly rate on 30 June 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachers – long day care centres | |||
| Level 1 | $45.80 | $5.97 | $5.70 |
| Level 2 | $50.06 | $6.53 | $6.23 |
| Level 3 | $54.50 | $7.11 | $6.79 |
| Level 4 | $58.94 | $7.69 | $7.34 |
| Level 5 | $63.38 | $8.27 | $7.89 |
| Teachers – preschools and schools | |||
| Level 1 | $44.04 | $5.74 | $5.48 |
| Level 2 | $48.14 | $6.28 | $5.99 |
| Level 3 | $52.41 | $6.84 | $6.53 |
| Level 4 | $56.68 | $7.39 | $7.06 |
| Level 5 | $60.94 | $7.95 | $7.59 |
Notes: Section 4.3 of the grant guidelines addresses interactions with the Annual Wage Review. Grant funding cannot be used to subsidise current wage expenditure except as outlined in section 5.3.
Rates prior to 1 July 2026
This page contains the current minimum rates that apply from 1 July 2026. For rates that applied before 1 July 2026, refer to the grant guidelines.
Examples to help you understand
Example 1: Worker paid below the new minimum hourly rate
Jane is a Level 3 – Qualified Educator covered by the Children's Services Award 2010 who was engaged on or after 1 March 2026.
On 30 June 2026, Jane was paid $32.34 per hour. This was the minimum WRP hourly rate that applied at that time. From 1 July 2026, the minimum WRP hourly rate increased to $33.87 per hour.
To meet the grant conditions from 1 July 2026, the grantee must:
- pay Jane at least $33.87 per hour, and
- pass on at least $4.42 per hour of grant funding as wages, noting this amount can form part of the $33.87 hourly rate.
The WRP contribution (standard amount) applies because Jane's hourly rate on 30 June 2026 was lower than the minimum hourly rate that applied from 1 July 2026.
The standard WRP contribution also applies to workers who were paid above the old minimum rate, but below the new minimum rate.
Example 2: Worker already paid above the new minimum hourly rate
Steve is a Level 3 – Qualified Educator covered by the Children's Services Award 2010 who was engaged on or after 1 March 2026.
On 30 June 2026, Steve was paid $35.00 per hour, which is above the minimum WRP hourly rate of $32.34 that applied at the time. From 1 July 2026, the minimum WRP hourly rate increased to $33.87 per hour. Because Steve was already being paid more than this amount, he is not entitled to a pay increase.
To meet the grant conditions from 1 July 2026, the grantee must:
- continue to pay Steve at least $35.00 per hour, and
- pass on at least $4.22 per hour of grant funding as wages, noting this amount can form part of the $35.00 hourly rate.
The WRP contribution (already paying minimum hourly rate) applies because Steve's hourly rate on 30 June 2026 was already above the minimum hourly rate that applied from 1 July 2026.
Rate changes
Rates may change due to:
- an annual wage review by the Fair Work Commission
- outcomes of the gender-based undervaluation priority awards review.
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