04 JunFair Work Commission announces 3.5% wage increase in Annual Review, gender equity recognised as key consideration
The Fair Work Commission has handed down its Annual Wage Review Decision for 2024–2025, confirming a 3.5% increase to all modern awards.
Notably, the Commission identified gender equity as a key consideration in its Decision. It acknowledged that Australia’s employees within modern awards are disproportionately female, part-time, casual, and low-paid.
Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) welcomes this important recognition of gender equity in the Commission’s Decision.
“It is encouraging to see a wage increase delivered through the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review Decision and particularly heartening that gender equity was a key consideration,” said Dr Karina Davis, CEO of ELAA.
“With more than 96 per cent of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workforce identifying as female, our sector remains one of the lowest paid in the country.”
Low wages, coupled with the complex nature of the work, continue to drive sector workforce shortages. At ELAA, we believe that addressing these issues is critical to ensuring the stability and long-term sustainability of our sector. Fair, competitive wages are essential to attracting and retaining the skilled professionals our sector needs.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocate for fair, competitive wages and conditions that reflect the vital role early childhood teachers and educators play in delivering high-quality programs for children and families.
What does this Wage Review Decision mean for the Victorian ECEC sector?
- Some minimum hourly rates for graduate teacher and educator classifications under VECTEA 2020 will be adjusted in line with this decision.
- ELAA members can access these changes via ADP Payline and our Wage Bulletins from the first full pay period on or after 1 July.
- These changes will also be reflected in the renegotiated VECTEA 2024/25 agreement.
Gender Undervaluation: further increases to the Children’s Services Award 2010
Wages for educators under the Children’s Services Award 2010 are currently under review by the Fair Work Commission as part of its Gender-Based Undervaluation Review. ELAA made a formal submission to the Expert Panel last September as part of this landmark Review. We expect further updates on this Review in the coming weeks.
Have questions? Need support?
If you have questions about this Wage Review and how it impacts the sector, contact our Member Solutions team: membersolutions@elaa.org.au.
