Overview
The federal government has passed the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) (Extending Support and Strengthening Safety) Act 2026 (Act No. 88 of 2026). The Act commenced on 18 September 2026 and is administered by the Department of Education.
What the Act does
The Act amends the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Act 2024. The title of the amending Act indicates the changes relate to extending support and strengthening safety for early childhood education and care workers. The source summary does not specify the detailed content of the amendments beyond what is reflected in the title.
Where to find the full text
The complete text of the Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation at https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026A00088.
Key actions
- Read the full Act at https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026A00088 to understand what changes have been made to the 2026 funding and safety arrangements for early childhood education and care workers.
- Contact the Department of Education to confirm how this Act affects wage subsidy arrangements under the original 2024 Special Account scheme.
- Set up a legislation alert for this Act at https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026A00088 using the Set up an alert function to be notified of any further amendments.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.