Supporting Early Childhood Educators & Families in Dunkley | House of Representatives | 8 Sep 2026

Early childhood educators do incredibly important work – supporting our children to learn, grow and thrive, while giving families the confidence to work, study and build their future. On 8 September 2026, I spoke in the House of Representatives about the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Bill 2026. Here in Dunkley, around 80 early childhood education and care services are receiving the worker retention payment, supporting approximately 1,230 local workers. The Government is extending the worker retention payment for a further two years, backed by an additional $3.6 billion, providing greater certainty for educators, services and families. The extension is also expected to save the average family around $1,500 over the next two years. These reforms are about recognising the skilled and valuable work of our educators, strengthening safety and quality, and making sure families can continue to access reliable early learning and care. To every early childhood educator across Dunkley – thank you for the difference you make in the lives of our children and families every day. #Delivering4Dunkley #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildCare