Childcare workers are getting another boost to their pay packets, as the industry hails progress on staff shortages following a government-funded pay rise.
The final five per cent of the federal government's 15 per cent pay rise package will hit early childhood educators' bank accounts from Monday, a year after the initial 10 per cent began rolling out.
The $3.6 billion measure was intended to attract more workers to the sector and help reduce rates of casualisation, burnout and turnover hindering Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ambition of universal affordable childcare.
In addition to a landmark award wage increase handed down by the Fair Work Commission, it adds up to about $200 extra per week since December 2024.
One year on, results indicate the wage bump is working as intended.
"There's still a lot of things we need to address within the early education workforce, but anecdotally, the ability to find educators has increased," said Nesha Hutchinson, vice president of long day care provider peak body the Australian Childcare Alliance.
In the 12 months to August, the number of educators rose by 15,100: an increase of six per cent.
Even more significant was the reduction in turnover, with a 14 per cent drop in vacancy rates from October 2024 to October this year, Ms Hutchinson told AAP.
"The most important thing is that we keep them and we look after them, because the things they learn over time, the relationships they have with children, the relationships they have with families, this is what leads to high quality early childhood education," she said.
About three-quarters of providers have taken up the government-funded increase, which provides up to a 15 per cent increase on the award wage plus an additional 20 per cent to cover superannuation, workers compensation and other associated costs, Ms Hutchinson said.
To qualify, providers must not increase fees for parents by more than 4.4 per cent over the first year and 4.2 per cent in year two.
Goodstart Early Learning, Australia's largest childcare provider which operates more than 650 centres nationwide, said vacancy rates and staff turnover were at a five-year low, with the use of casuals and labour hire also reduced.
"A stable, professional workforce is an absolute precondition for delivering safe, quality early learning and care for children and families," Goodstart chief executive Ros Baxter said.
United Workers Union national president Jo Schofield said by helping retain committed and passionate educators, the pay rise was an investment in the safety and quality of early education.