Changes to the Children’s Services Award
Published 16 January 2026 | Updated 4 June 2026
Learn more about changes to classifications and minimum pay rates in the Children's Services Award.
On this page:
What's changed
The Fair Work Commission has made changes to the Children’s Services Award (Award) as part of its Gender-based undervaluation – priority awards review.
These changes took effect from 1 March 2026.
These include:
- changes to minimum pay rates
- a new classification structure
- changes to percentages used to calculate some allowances.
Get ready for the changes
It’s important to understand what’s changed in the Award and how it applies to you. Learn more about the changes below.
Pay rate changes
Pay rate increases are being applied in stages.
The first increase to minimum pay rates applied from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 March 2026.
The next pay increase applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 30 June 2026.
Employees whose minimum pay rate on 28 February 2026 was higher than the new pay rates that will apply from 30 June 2026 will continue to receive the higher rate.
Further pay rate changes apply for certain classification levels from:
- 30 June 2027
- 30 June 2028
- 30 June 2029.
Increases to minimum pay rates will also increase the amount payable for some allowances under the Award.
Interaction with the Annual Wage Review
There will be a further increase to minimum wage rates from 1 July 2026, following the Commission’s Annual Wage Review decision.
This means that employees receiving the minimum award wage under the Children’s Services Award will be entitled to a further minimum wage increase.
For most employees there will be an increase of 4.75% from the employee’s first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
For ongoing employees on the lowest rate in the award, Level 1.1 Support Workers, there will be an increase to $1004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour from the same date.
Example: Pay period starting 30 June 2026
Jamie is a director of a child-care centre covered by the Children’s Services Award.
Jamie’s employees are paid on weekly pay cycle that runs from Tuesday to Monday each week.
Jamie knows that minimum pay rates for some employees under the Pharmacy Award will increase on 30 June 2026. Because Tuesday 30 June 2026 is the start of a new pay cycle, those rates will apply for the entire pay period.
These pay rates then increase again from the next pay cycle which starts Tuesday 7 July 2026.
Prepare for the changes
Our Pay and Conditions Tool has been updated with the new rates that apply from 30 June 2026.
Remember that some classifications have changed and you may need to select a new classification.
You can also download the 30 June 2026 pay guide(DOCX)(PDF) to get the new rates.
Learn more about the pay rate changes and how it applies to you in the Award determination.
Our pay tools will be updated again with the rates that apply from 1 July 2026 closer to that time. Subscribe to email updates to be notified when these rates are available.
Changes to classifications
A new classification structure operates from 1 March 2026.
Changes include:
- simplifying the existing classifications into 8 new Children’s Services Employee (CSE) levels
- adding classification translation arrangements to the Award to help employees and employers understand how employees will move from the old to the new CSE levels.
There are additional changes for cooks whose employers require them to hold or be working toward an approved relevant qualification allowing them to assist as an educator working directly with children when needed.
You can view the classification translation arrangements in Schedule I of the Children's Services Award.
What to do now
Pay rates that apply from 30 June 2026 are available in our Pay and Conditions Tool.
To learn more about the changes, visit Gender undervaluation – priority awards review.
We’ll have information about wage rates from 1 July closer to the date, for more information visit, Get ready for the 2026 minimum wage decision.
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