Gender-based undervaluation
The ACA has developed several resources to help early learning service providers and their staff understand the outcome of the gender-based undervaluation determination and how it will affect the Children's Services Award (2010).
Initial changes from the determination took place from 1 March 2026. There is now another staged wage increase taking place from 30 June 2026 - please select the time period to ensure you are accessing the appropriate resources.
Gender-based undervaluation: how it impacts your classification
Use this finder to see your new classification from 1 March 2026.
- The Fair Work Commission has recognised historic gender undervaluation in early childhood education and care, and award wages will increase in stages.
- The first change applies from 1 March 2026, with further staged changes later (including around end of June 2026).
- The Children’s Services Award moves to a clearer 8-level classification structure.
- For most educators in WRP-supported services, there is usually no immediate change to take-home pay on 1 March 2026, and pay will not go backwards.
If you're under the MEA
If you're under the Children's Services Award (2010) (including those covered by an IFA)
Check an individual employee’s classification translation
Select the employee’s old classification to see the translated new classification from 1 March 2026.
Map out all your employees’ classification translations
Add employees, record their old classification, and track their new translated classification in one place.
| Employee name | Old classification | New classification |
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Click to view full mapping table (Old → New)
| Old Classification | New Classification |
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Further Resources
You can access the Fair Work Commission’s formal documents about the Gender-based undervaluation determination using the following links:
