ACA Western Australia

Good news for educators, but is it the full answer?

The Federal Government has committed to extend the childcare worker pay rise and continue wage increases for early childhood educators through to 2028.

For a sector that has long called for better pay, stronger workforce retention and greater professional recognition, this is a significant announcement.

But the fine print matters.

The article looks at what the Worker Retention Payment extension means for educators, providers and families — including fee caps, new quality and safety conditions, childcare funding, provider sustainability, and what happens when government support eventually ends.

Do you think this gives the early childhood education and care sector the certainty it needs — or are bigger workforce reforms still required?

Read the full article on The Sector:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0-8cf0

Early Childhood Educators’ Day 2026: recognition matters more than ever Early Childhood Educators’ Day will be celebrated on Wednesday 2 September 2026, recognising the essential role educators play in children’s wellbeing, learning and development.

⚠️ Safety Alert: Check Your Magnetic Toys and Games

The ACCC is reminding businesses and consumers that certain products containing small, high-powered magnets are banned in Australia.

These products can pose a serious risk to children if swallowed, potentially causing choking, internal injuries, or even death.

What services should do:

• Review magnetic toys, games and puzzles in your service
• Remove any products containing loose or separable high-powered magnets
• Check supplier information and current product recalls
• Share this information with your team

The ACCC has recently published multiple recalls involving "magnetic game" and "magnetic chess" products that do not comply with Australia's permanent ban on high-powered magnets.

https://brnw.ch/21x30RV

Now is a good time to review your resources and ensure they remain safe and compliant.

Payday Super is coming – are you ready?

From 1 July, super must be paid at the same time as wages. That means reviewing payroll processes, getting systems in place now and ensuring your cashflow is ready for more regular payments.

To help you prepare, our exclusive super partner Child Care Super have put together a Payday Super Hub to help you understand what’s changing and what to do next.

https://www.childcaresuper.com.au/employers/payday-super

🎉Our Early Childhood Educators' Day Online Merchandise Store is going LIVE next Monday!

Get ready to explore a range of merchandise designed to help you celebrate and recognise the incredible contribution of your valued educators.

We have partnered with a new supplier – Payless Promotions – to ensure that all orders arrive safely during the week prior to Early Childhood Educators’ Day.

Keep an eye on our channels for the launch announcement and shopping link! 👀

Here's what we know about the WRP extension so far.

📩For more information, check the comments for links to our online WRP resources.

The ACA welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement extending the worker retention payment (WRP) for early childhood educators. It as an important step toward supporting workforce stability across the early learning sector.

As the peak body for independent early learning (childcare) services, whose educators support more than 360,000 families across Australia, we have consistently advocated for the importance of ongoing funding to support the attraction and retention of educators amid ongoing workforce shortages and in difficult operating environments.

Link to the full media release detailing the announcement in the comments 👇

Childcare affordability remains a major concern for many Australian families, with cost-of-living pressures continuing to influence decisions about early learning participation, attendance patterns and workforce participation.

While recent policy reforms have improved access for many families, household budgets remain under pressure, and affordability continues to shape how and when families engage with early childhood education and care.

What does this mean for enrolment trends, service demand and the future of the sector?

The Sector explores the latest developments and the challenges still facing families.

Read the full article here:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0XVSp0

Something to consider in lifting child safety in your service. Worthy of a look

The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian has expanded its free child safe eLearning resources, providing additional support for organisations working with children and young people across the state.

As child safety reforms, reportable conduct obligations and safeguarding expectations continue to evolve across the early childhood education and care sector, accessible professional learning resources like these are becoming increasingly important for educators, leaders and approved providers.

The updated resources aim to strengthen understanding of child safe practices, organisational culture and the responsibilities all adults hold in creating safer environments for children.

A valuable read for anyone working across ECEC, OSHC and child-facing services.

Read the full article here:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0Wrd00

Child safety remains front of mind for our sector, and this is an opportunity for providers, educators and families to have their say on the potential use of CCTV in early learning services.

ATTENTION: ECEC Service providers, educators and families
The Australian Government wants to hear your thoughts on using CCTV to enhance child safety in early learning services.

We enourage you to share your feedback through a short survey. (Survey conducted by KPMG for the government.)

You can take the survey here: https://insightssurvey.kpmg.com.au/wix/p584775693882.aspx