ECEC Grant

The ECEC Worker Retention Grant is an Australian Government initiative designed to fund a wage increase for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce through a worker retention payment. View our resources on this page to learn more.

Early childhood wages increase for workers

JAG submitted a Grant Application to secure funding for staff wage increases on 7 November 2024.

JAG's application includes a recommendation for wage increases for all our Service Delivery team members.

What does this mean for JAG staff?​

Wage increases for Services Team members, both permanent and casual:

  • 10% on top of the current national base award rate first pay period December 2024​

  • An additional 5% effective first pay period December 2025​

JAG's grant application includes all Service team members, Educators, Coordinators, Service Managers and Regional Managers.

For casual Educators:

We want to recognise the important work that our teams do every day as they Help Today's Children Navigate Their Tomorrow.

ECEC updates

Date TBC - Wage Increase

  • Unfortunately, Government delays will mean that Grant Funding in unlikely to come through until the new year.

  • We will pass on the pay rises as soon as we can when we get the funding and wage increases will be backdated to the first week of December.

2 December 2024

  • Additional resources have been added to the page: ECEC Grant FAQs.

28 November 2024

  • Communications to staff about the early childhood wages increase.

  • To get the wage increase EVERY Service Team member MUST sign an Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA). It’s a mandatory Government requirement for the wage increase.​

  • 95% of Service Team members need to sign an IFA for JAG to get the Grant funding.

7 November 2024

  • JAG submitted Grant Application and are now working through the process of finalising the Submission to successful conclusion.

ECEC website resources:

Have further questions?

If you have any further questions, we're here to support you. You can:

1) Reach out to your manager

2) Email us

Direct any questions you have to: ececgrant@junioradventuresgroup.com.au​

Your email will be answered by the People and Capability Team or the CX Team

3) Call us

You call also call the CX Team directly on a dedicated number for ECEC Grant questions: 1300 068 452

4) Submit a question

Submit a question to our P&C team through our staff employee portal