Am I still getting 15% under the childcare Worker Retention Payment?

It depends on your award. Early childhood teachers and Children's Services Award support workers keep the full 15% above their current award rate. For CS Award educators, the 1 March and 30 June 2026 award increases were absorbed into the WRP — so an educator hired after 1 March 2026 now sits about 4.3% above the current award (e.g. Cert III L3: award $32.47/hr, WRP minimum $33.87/hr). Your total pay didn't fall; the government-funded top-up shrank as the award caught up.

What is the minimum WRP rate for a Cert III educator in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, a Certificate III qualified educator at the new Level 3 must be paid at least $33.87 an hour at a Worker Retention Payment service ($32.47 award + $1.40 WRP). A Diploma educator at Level 5 has a minimum of $38.14; a graduate early childhood teacher in long day care $45.80. Pre-March-2026 employees keep minimums based on their old 28 February 2026 classification, which can be higher.

How did the Children's Services Award classifications change on 1 March 2026?

The FWC gender undervaluation decision restructured 36 old minimum rates into 8 new levels (L1 Introductory Educator through L8 Director) from 1 March 2026, with staged pay rises on 1 March 2026, 30 June 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 totalling 9.4% to 27.8% depending on the old classification ([2025] FWCFB 283). Existing staff translate via Schedule I of the award.

Does the WRP apply before or after casual loading?

Before. The WRP component is added to the base hourly rate, and the 25% casual loading is then applied to the total. A casual new-structure Level 3 educator's minimum is ($32.47 + $1.40) × 1.25 = $42.34 an hour at a WRP service.

Childcare Worker Retention Payment Checker

Check your ECEC Worker Retention Payment: minimum WRP-supported rate for your level under the Children's Services or Teachers award, and whether you're being paid it.

Last verified: 9 August 2026Jump to calculator ↓

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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

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