New Classification structure + Wage increases for Children’s Services Award from March 2026

On 10 December 2025, the Fair Work Commission issued a determination to vary the Children’s Services Award 2010 (the CS Award), resulting from the Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process which has been running for more than 18 months.

The review, commenced on the Commission’s own motion, set out to consider variations to classifications and minimum wage rates on work value grounds within six Modern Awards applicable in highly feminised industries, “to remedy potential gender undervaluation”.

The determination will replace the existing classification structure of the CS Award with new, simplified classification definitions (and no pay points) for all Children’s Services Employees, and flow on wage increases spread across 3 years, with the first instalment (being 5% in most instances) having application from the first full pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 March 2026.

Additional increases of varying amounts will subsequently flow through from 30 June each year until 2028, with select classification levels receiving a final minimal increase from 30 June 2029. The ultimate rates cannot be predicted, with yearly increases awarded as part of the Annual Wage Review process to also be flowed on from 1 July (assuming a wage increase is granted each year).

Please note that employees classified as Support Workers (e.g. bus drivers, cleaners, kitchenhands, admin employees, etc) have been excluded from reclassification and will not receive wage increases as part of this process, except for certain Cooks.

Employees engaged as Cooks who are required to hold, or be actively working towards, an approved early childhood education and care qualification and who may be required at any time to work directly with children to maintain educator-to-child ratios will need to be assigned the appropriate classification for a Children’s Services Employee and paid accordingly.

The classifications and rates of pay which will become operative for Children’s Services Employees from ppc 1 March 2026 can be found in clause 14.1(b) at item 5 of the determination, which can be accessed viewed on the FWC’s website, here.

A special minimum rate will apply to employees classified at Level 4A as of 28 February 2026 (i.e. Group Leaders/Lead Educators who do not yet hold the Diploma qualification) from ppc 1 March through to 30 June 2026. From 30 June 2026, these employees will be entitled to receive the full rate for the new Level 6 classification (Room Leader). 

The determination provides translation arrangements which set out how the existing classification levels (and pay points) align with the incoming classification definitions – refer to Schedule I – Classification Translation Arrangements on page 6 of the determination for more detail.

Junior rates of pay will inevitably increase as a result of these changes, but trainee rates of pay (derived from the National Training Wage Schedule) will not be impacted.

Preserved Minimum Rates of Pay:

To prevent any employee suffering a reduction in pay because of reclassification, clause I.4 of the incoming Schedule I preserves rates of pay applicable as of 28 February 2026, for the following classifications:

  • Children’s Services Employee—Level 3.3
  • Children’s Services Employee—Director—Level 6.4
  • Children’s Services Employee—Director—Level 6.5
  • Children’s Services Employee—Director—Level 6.7
  • Children’s Services Employee—Director—Level 6.8
  • Children’s Services Employee—Director—Level 6.9

Pay rates applicable to the above classifications as of 28 February 2026 will be preserved until the rate applicable to the new classification level is higher, at which time the employee will transition to the new classification and higher pay rate.

ECEC employers are encouraged to spend time familiarising themselves with the incoming structure (as per the FWC determination) and prepare for the reclassification of employees, which will need to be communicated to workers in advance of 1 March 2026.

ES Subscribers are invited to contact our advice line directly on (07) 3220 3500 with any questions about the upcoming changes.