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Worker Retention Payment Support Service
Worker Retention Payment Support Service

Worker Retention Payment (WRP) Extension to 30 June 2028

On 17 June 2026, the Federal Government announced it would extend the WRP program to 30 June 2028, committing an extra $3.6billion toward continuing the grant. The WRP extension has come with amended guidelines & eligibility requirements for both providers seeking to engage in the grant for the first time, as well as existing providers.


The below outlines key dates relevant to the extension.

Important WRP Extension Information 

To be eligible for the Year of the 3 WRP, you must: 


  • Hold approval to administer the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

  • Operate an eligible Centre Based Day Care (CBDC), Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), Family Day Care (FDC) or In Home Care (IHC) service. FDC and IHC providers must engage all their educators as employees; services using contractors for some or all educators are ineligible.

  • Employ eligible workers covered by the Children’s Services Award 2010 or the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, or workers whose primary duties fall under these awards but who are covered by another instrument, such as a state industrial instrument.

  • Establish a compliant workplace instrument that ensures the required WRP wage increases are passed on to eligible workers.

  • Comply with the applicable service fee growth cap of 5.8% from 17 June 2026 - 07 August 2027. 

  • Meet the program’s quality and safety requirements, including the requirements taking effect from July 2027. If you are a service not yet assessed under the NQF, you may receive funding until you get your first rating for QA2. 

    • If you are an existing WRP recipient, you do not need to submit a new application to continue receiving funding through to 30 June 2028. 


    However, you must complete the extension process and meet the updated grant guidelines, as below: 


  • Accept the WRP Extension Variation Agreement  by 11 December 2026. Log in to SmartyGrants, select SmartyFile → My Submissions → your existing WRP grant agreement → WRP Extension Variation Agreement. The variation must be completed by an authorised representative. 

    • Update your workplace instrument by 28 February 2027. The updated instrument must meet the new grant guidelines and remain in place until the end of the grant period. It must reflect the required wage arrangements from 1 December 2026. There is a form in SmartyGrants titled Workplace Instrument Update Form, where you can action this.

    • Continue meeting grant guidelines, including passing funding on to eligible employees and complying with the applicable fee growth cap

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  

    You can access the Year 3 WRP application form via SmartyGrants here.

    From July 2027, services that are not rated as Meeting Quality Area 2 under the National Quality Standard, may not be eligible to receive/continue receiving WRP funding. 

    If you do not accept the extension, your current grant agreement will continue under its existing terms. However, CCS sessions of care provided after 30 November 2026 will not be eligible for WRP funding.

    If you are not looking to extend, please contact the ACA WRP Support Service on 1300 856 379 or wrp@childcarealliance.org.au to discuss your circumstances and next steps.

    We are currently waiting on the Department's approval on our updated IFA template. 


    If you are an ACA member, you will receive a member alert when the new templates are live.


    If you are not an ACA member, register for our WRP mailing listto ensure you receive the new templates.