Early childhood education and care in 2026: the pay rises, the new rulebook, and what to do about them

Childcare and early education providers manage ratios, rosters and a newly rewritten child safety rulebook, and the compliance ground keeps shifting. The Children's Services Award has moved three times in five months, every maximum penalty under the National Law tripled from 2 January 2026, and the 15% worker retention top-up is only funded until 30 November. Half of providers have already found a payroll error. This factsheet breaks down the numbers, the five regulatory changes hitting the sector, and the practical steps to close the gaps.
Guides 24 September, 2026
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Early childhood education and care in 2026: the pay rises, the new rulebook, and what to do about them

What’s inside?

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The numbers that matter:

Payroll errors, the gap in psychosocial risk confidence, and why 1 in 4 childcare calls to our advice line are about conduct and disputes.

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Regulatory changes explained:

The new Children’s Services Employee levels, the end of retention funding, mandatory child safety training, tripled penalties and the National Early Childhood Worker Register.

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Psychosocial safety in focus:

Why ratio pressure, distressed families and allegations carry the same legal weight as physical hazards, and why mental health claims keep people off work five times longer.

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Action checklist:

Practical steps for each change, from translating every employee to a new level under Schedule I to modelling your wage bill from 1 December.

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