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Early Childhood Education & Care Worker Retention Payment
Helping Australian Early Learning Services Grow Through Workforce Investment
The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Worker Retention Payment Grant provides financial support to eligible early learning providers to increase wages for educators and teachers. This initiative aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to delivering affordable, accessible, and high-quality early childhood education.
As part of a $3.6 billion federal program, the grant has already funded over 4,000 childcare providers.
KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:
- Supporting wage growth for ECEC workers
- Enhancing staff retention and attraction
- Ensuring continued access to affordable early learning
- Addressing workforce shortages across Australia
- $3.6 Billion Federal Government Program
- Payment per employee: Between ~$114 and ~$249 per week
- 15% above-award wage increase
- Average funding between $200,000 to $1,000,000 per entity
Before June 30, 2025
Backdated + Ongoing Funding
You may be eligible for backdated funding from 2 December 2024 if your workplace instrument was active from that date. This includes wage supplementation paid every four weeks, continuing through to 30 November 2026, based on CCS care data.
Before June 30, 2025
Ongoing Funding Only
If you apply after 30 June 2025, you’ll receive ongoing wage supplementation from your approval date. Payments are made every four weeks in arrears and continue through to 30 November 2026, based on CCScare data.
To apply, you must be an approved provider delivering eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Specific eligibility criteria include
- Be a legal entity providing Centre-Based Day Care (CBDC) or Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
- Hold a valid Child Subsidy (CCS) approval number
- Employ eligible ECEC workers under a compliant workplace instrument
- Commit to not increasing service fees by more than the approved annual cap
- Ensure workers are paid at or above minimum wage thresholds
- Wage Increases for Eligible ECEC Work
- Superannuation Contributions
- Leave Loading and Employee Entitlements
- Worker’s Compensation Insurance
- Payroll Tax
- Other Approved On-Costs (as per grant agreement)
- Historical Leave Liabilities (case-by-case basis)
The ECEC Worker Retention Payment Grant is designed to directly support your workforce by funding mandated wage increases and eligible on-costs. By working with Grant Help, we’ll assess your staffing costs against program guidelines, helping you maximise your funding while ensuring full compliance with grant conditions.
The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) helps early learning services improve access and participation for children with additional needs. It forms part of the Australian Government’s Child Care Safety Net and is designed to embed inclusive practices across the ECEC sector. Eligible services can access tailored support and funding to overcome barriers to inclusion and create equitable learning environments.
KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:
- Build Service Capability
- Address Barriers to Access and Participation
- Promote Inclusive, High-Quality Practices
- Support Worker Participation
- Foster National Consistency and Collaboration
- Be an approved provider under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) system
- Operate a Centre-Based Day Care, Outside School Hours Care, or Family Day Care service
- Support a child with additional needs, including disability, trauma-related behaviours, or developmental delay
- Collaborate with an Inclusion Agency and complete a Strategic Inclusion Plan
- The Inclusion Support Program operates on a continuous basis, with applications accepted throughout the year.
- Support is typically approved for periods ranging from 12 to 52 weeks, with provisions available for extensions or renewals where appropriate.
- As funding under the Inclusion Development Fund is subject to annual budget allocations, early engagement is strongly advised to ensure timely access to available support.
Our focus at Grant Help is to create ongoing value for our clients.
At Grant Help, we specialise in simplifying the application and compliance process for government grants. Our focus is on helping early learning providers unlock the full value of the ECEC Worker Retention Payment Grant with minimal disruption to daily operations.
TRUSTED STRATEGIC SUPPORT
We take the complexity out of your ECEC grant application. After a quick discovery session or review of your workplace instruments, we assess eligibility and funding potential aligned with CCS data and award conditions.
TAILORED COMPLIANCE STRATEGY
We develop a tailored funding and compliance roadmap for your service, ensuring all wage structures and payment practices meet the grant’s specific requirements. Our guidance is based on a deep understanding of Fair Work instruments and sector regulations.
APPLICATION PREPARATION & LODGEMENT
From validating your workforce structure to reviewing pay rates and uploading all required documentation, we prepare and submit a robust, fully compliant application on your behalf.
AUDIT REPRESENTATION
We represent each client through any department audits, contesting with appeals to legitimately maximise your reimbursement.
Ready to check your eligibility or get started?
Book a quick eligibility call or email Jasmyn directly
We take care of your grants.
You focus on your business.
You focus on your business.
