Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Grogan, for your support for early childhood education and educators. Early childhood educators work hard every day to give children a great start in life, but their work has been overlooked and undervalued for too long. When we first came to government, educators couldn't afford to stay in the jobs they loved because their pay didn't reflect the value of their contribution—and love just doesn't pay the rent.

We had workers leaving in droves. That's why the Albanese government is investing $3.6 billion to deliver a historic 15 per cent pay rise for the early childhood workforce. This means that educators can afford to stay in the jobs they love. From December last year, a typical full-time educator received a pay rise of at least $103 per week, and, in just over three months time, that will increase to at least $155 per week.

On this side of the chamber, we see our early childhood educators. We value them. We respect their contribution. We don't just talk about it; we act on it. This 15 per cent pay rise is paying dividends. Educators are staying in their roles for longer, with vacancy rates down by almost a quarter. When educators stay, the whole system is stronger. These are good jobs, meaningful jobs, important jobs—jobs where trained educators shape children's futures and support families. For too long, that work was taken for granted. Under the Albanese government, educators are recognised and rewarded.