On 10 December 2025, the Fair Work Commission handed down a decision that deeply resonated across the early childhood education and care sector. It formally acknowledged what educators, leaders and families have known—and lived—for decades: the work of caring for, educating and protecting young children has been systematically undervalued, in large part because it is a female-dominated profession.
Known as the Gender Undervaluation Determination, this landmark decision brings long-overdue recognition to the skill, responsibility, emotional labour and professional judgement embedded in children’s services. It introduces formal changes to the Children’s Services Award 2010, reshaping classification structures and increasing minimum pay rates over time.
For early learning services, this moment represents far more than a pay rise. It is a meaningful step toward fair recognition, workforce sustainability, and the professional respect that educators deserve for the vital role they play in shaping children’s lives, families’ trust, and our broader community.
This article contains and explains all you need to do to get ready for the changes next year and QIP write ups you can use to demonstrate your exceeding practices.
