Key information about the updates to the Children's Services Managed Award Template:
Questions
What is the Gender Undervaluation - Priority Awards Review case?
What is the Gender Undervaluation - Priority Awards Review case?
The Gender-based undervaluation - priority awards review case seeks to review modern award classifications and minimum wage rates on work value grounds to remedy potential gender-based undervaluation.
On 10 December 2025, a Decision was handed down by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on this case to vary the Children's Services Award 2020.
A Determination was published outlining the updates to the classification structure in the Children's Services Award 2020.
Following submissions made on the Determination, the Fair Work Commission have subsequently published corrections and further corrections to the Determination.
When do these changes come into effect?
When do these changes come into effect?
These changes take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 March 2026.
This means if you have a weekly pay period that commences on a Monday, these changes will be in effect from Monday, 2 March 2026 as this is the beginning of your next full pay period after the effective date.
How do I receive the updates in my account?
How do I receive the updates in my account?
Tanda will automatically update the Children's Services Award Managed Template to align with the changes determined by the FWC from the effective date.
Please note while the Managed Template will be updated automatically, there may be further action required to facilitate the changes for your employees.
Please refer to the Summary of Determination and Updating Rates in Payroll sections of this guide for further details.
Summary of Determination
The Determination outlines the variations to the classification structure in the Children's Services Award as a result of the outcomes of the Gender-based undervaluation - priority awards review case.
A link to the Determination can be found here.
Childrens Services Employees - Updates to Classification Structure
Childrens Services Employees - Updates to Classification Structure
The classification structure for Children's Services Employees has been varied in the Children's Services Award.
As a result of the variation, the below Children's Services Employee classifications have been retired in Children's Services Managed Template:
Childrens Services Employee Level 1.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 1.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 1.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 1.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 2.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 3A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 3A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 3.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 3.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 3.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 3.4
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.4
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.5
Childrens Services Employee Level 4.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 4.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 4.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 5A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 5A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 5A.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 5.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 5.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 5.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 5.4
Childrens Services Employee Level 6A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 6A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 6A.3
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.1
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.2
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.3
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.4
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.5
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.6
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.7
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.8
Children's Services Employee - Director - Level 6.9
From the first pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026, the retired classification tags will no longer have any award interpretation functionality associated with them.
The historical application of the above classification tags will not change in locked timesheets.
New Children's Services Employee classifications have been configured in the Managed Template to align with the updated classification structure set out in the Children's Services Award.
The new classifications effective from the first pay period commencing after 1 March 2026 are:
Level 1 Introductory Educator
Level 2 Educator
Level 3 Qualified Educator
Level 4 Experienced Educator
Level 5 Advanced Educator
Level 6 Room Leader
Level 7 Assistant Director
Level 8 Director
Any employees configured on one of the retired Children's Services Employee classifications will need to be reclassified to one of the new Children's Services Employee classifications in the Managed Template.
For further details on reclassifying staff in Tanda please see here.
For further details on the new Children's Services Employee classifications and a breakdown of the classification translation please see here.
Childrens Services Employees - Translated Classifications
Childrens Services Employees - Translated Classifications
The table below details the classification translations in Tanda as provided in the determination:
For further details on how to automate the reclassification of staff in Tanda in line with the effective period of these changes we recommend using the scheduled pay conditions functionality.
For more information on updating pay conditions and setting the pay conditions to take effect on a future date please see here.
New Minimum Rates - Former Level 4A Childrens Services Employees
New Minimum Rates - Former Level 4A Childrens Services Employees
The Determination sets out a new minimum rate for employees classified as one of the below Childrens Services Employee Level 4A classifications on 28 February 2026:
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.4
The Childrens Services Employee Level 4A classifications above have been maintained in the Children's Services Managed Template.
From the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026 the Childrens Services Employee Level 4A classifications will facilitate the new minimum rate as determined by the Fair Work Commission.
No further action is required to receive this update.
We will review these classifications when the next phase of wage increases are handed down by the FWC.
Retained Minimum Rates of Pay
Retained Minimum Rates of Pay
The Determination also provides details on retained minimum rates of pay for employees classified under certain levels of the Children's Services Award on 28 February 2026.
The retained minimum rates of pay will apply to employees classified under the Children's Services Award as a Childrens Services Employee at the following classifications:
Childrens Services Employee Level 3A.1
Childrens Services Employee Level 3A.2
Childrens Services Employee Level 3.3
Childrens Services Employee Level 4A.5
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.4
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.5
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.6
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.7
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.8
Childrens Services Employee - Director Level 6.9
Employees classified on one of the above classifications on 28 February 2026 are entitled to a minimum rate of pay that is the higher of:
(a) the minimum rate of pay that applies to the employee's translated classification; and
(b) the minimum rate of pay previously applicable to the employee under this award as it was on 28 February 2026.
To facilitate the retained rates of pay for the above classifications, the existing base rates will be maintained in Tanda.
If your employee remains on one of the retained rates of pay, no further action is required.
We will review the retained rates of pay these classifications when the next phase of wage increases are handed down by the FWC.
Allowances - Rate Increases
Allowances - Rate Increases
The standard rate in the Children's Services Award has been updated to Level 3 Qualified Educator.
As a result, the allowances calculated off the standard rate have been increased.
Updated Allowances:
Broken Shift Allowance (clause 15.1)
First Aid Allowance - Not employed in out-of-school hours care (clause 15.4)
First Aid Allowance - Employed in out-of-school hours care (clause 15.4)
The new allowance rates will automatically take effect from your first full pay period commencing after the effective date.
No further action is required to receive the allowance updates.
Apprentices - Updates to Apprentice Classifications
Apprentices - Updates to Apprentice Classifications
The apprentice rates in the Children's Services Award are derived as a percentage of the standard rate.
The standard rate in the Children's Services Award has been updated to Level 3 Qualified Educator. As a result the apprentice rates have increased following the outcomes for the Gender-based under valuation - Priority awards review case.
To facilitate this update the below apprentice classifications from the Children's Services Managed Template have been retired:
Apprentice 1st Year Completed Year 12
Apprentice 2nd Year Completed Year 12
Apprentice 1st Year Not Completed Year 12
Apprentice 2nd Year Not Completed Year 12
Adult Apprentice 1st Year Completed Year 12
Adult Apprentice 2nd Year Completed Year 12
Adult Apprentice 1st Year Not Completed Year 12
Adult Apprentice 2nd Year Not Completed Year 12
From the first pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026, the retired apprentice classifications will no longer have any award interpretation functionality associated with them.
Timesheet outcomes for historical timesheets with these rates will remain unchanged.
New apprentice classifications have been configured to facilitate the updated apprentice rate structure set out in the Children's Services Award.
The new apprentice classifications available in the Children's Services Managed Template:
Apprentice 1st Year
Apprentice 2nd Year
Adult Apprentice 1st Year
Adult Apprentice 2nd Year
If your employee is configured on one of the retired apprentice classifications in Tanda. Please review their pay conditions and update them to one of the new apprentice classifications available in the Managed Template.
Please see the below translation table to assist with reclassifying your employees:
For further details on how to automate the reclassification of staff in Tanda in line with the effective period of these changes we recommend using the scheduled pay conditions functionality.
For more information on updating pay conditions and setting the pay conditions to take effect on a future date please see here.
Updating the Level/ Classification in Tanda
If updating the pay conditions during the current pay cycle please recalculate timesheets.
Updating the Pay Conditions
Updating the Pay Conditions
The Classification/ Level can be updated on an individual level.
Navigate to Workforce > Staff > Employee Name > Pay Conditions > then select Edit These Pay Conditions
Then you will be prompted to select how you want to make the pay condition change:
From the start of the current pay cycle;
From the start of the previous cycle; or
From the start of the employment or previous pay conditions.
From the Classification/ Level drop-down select the applicable rate:
Once you've updated the pay conditions, select Confirm Changes
Scheduling a Pay Condition change
Scheduling a Pay Condition change
If you would like to automate a pay condition change for a future date, you can use the Scheduled Pay Conditions functionality.
Navigate to Workforce > Staff > Employee Name > Pay Conditions > select Add New Conditions:
Then you will be prompted to select the effective date for the Pay Condition change:
To have the pay conditions apply from Monday 2 March 2026 select On a Custom Date and input the date into the pop-up field:
Once a date is selected, the pay conditions will populate below. Then you can update the Classification/ Level field as required.
Once you're happy with the updated Pay Conditions, select Confirm Changes to schedule the change.
Scheduled pay conditions will then appear in the employee profile under Upcoming Pay Conditions:
Updating the Employment Conditions via CSV
Updating the Employment Conditions via CSV
If you need to update multiple employees' Classifications/ Levels at once, there is the ability to action this change in bulk via the Employment Conditions CSV.
To access the Employment Conditions CSV, navigate to Workforce > Staff > Tools > Manage Employment Conditions
Select Export to CSV to download a copy of your employees' pay conditions:
Once the pay conditions have converted to CSV, select the Download CSV button:
Open the CSV in a spreadsheet software. Then you can filter the view based on the employees you need to update:
If updating the current pay conditions, update the Classification column to the applicable translated classification:
If actioning this update as a scheduled change, update the Start Date + Classification columns as required:
Once the required updates have been completed in the CSV, download an updated version with the changes. This file will be re-imported into Tanda.
When you're ready to import the CSV into Tanda, navigate back to the Manage Employment Conditions page and switch to the Import CSV tab:
Then drag your updated CSV file to the Add a file step and select Import CSV
You can validate the update has worked by reviewing the employee profile.
We recommend testing these changes in the Staging environment first to validate the correct fields have been updated in the CSV.
Facilitating the changes for employees via Positions
Facilitating the changes for employees via Positions
This section is only applicable if you are using the Positions feature.
Currently updates to Position Templates cannot be date driven.
If you would like to maintain a record of the old classification on the position, you will need to configure new positions for the new classifications.
For further details on updating Position Templates in bulk please see → Importing Positions via CSV.
The new position can then be allocated to the pay conditions in a scheduled change.
For instructions on how to allocate your new Positions to the pay conditions in bulk please see → Schedule Changes to Employees' Pay Conditions in Bulk.
Updating Rates in Payroll
Updating rates for Tanda Payroll
Updating rates for Tanda Payroll
For Tanda Payroll clients, base rates update automatically in payroll for any employees on one of the Managed Award Templates.
Updating Rates for Xero and MYOB Account Right Live
Updating Rates for Xero and MYOB Account Right Live
For Xero and MYOB Account Right Live clients, base rates update automatically through Tanda's integration with these providers.
The rates will be updated on export of the first finalised pay period after the new rates have come into effect.
For these updates, this will be the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026.
Timesheets will need to be exported the day after the pay period ends to reflect in Xero and MYOB correctly.
No further action is required, however you should confirm that the updates have occurred as expected before finalising your first pay run after the change.
Updating rates for all other payroll systems
Updating rates for all other payroll systems
At the beginning of the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 March 2026, follow the below steps to match the rates in your payroll software to the rates in Tanda:
Generate a report of the new base hourly rates in Tanda. To do this navigate to Compliance > Award Template > click Manage next to the applicable modern award:
In the settings for each Manage Award Template, you will find a payroll configuration report button. For example, please see the below button for the integration with CloudPayroll:
Depending on the payroll software integration enabled, the configuration report button might be named differently but it will always be located in the same place as the above image.
Once the button is clicked, the below page will display where the list of current base rates and allowances can be printed:
Then update the base hourly rates in your payroll software to match the new base hourly rates contained in the Payroll Configuration Report.
Higher Duties
If you previously had higher duties configured for any of the soon to be retired Classifications/ Levels in the Children's Services Managed Template, please note that these will also no longer apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 March 2026.
If you still require higher duties, new jumps will need to be configured using the new Classifications/ Levels.
Higher duties can be managed by navigating to Time & Attendance > Compliance > (Managed Template) > Higher Duties
For further details on configuring higher duties in the Managed Template, please see here.
Reviewing Custom Worker Retention Payment Setups
Tanda does not manage any updates to custom Worker Retention Payment configurations.
The Early Childhood Care Workforce Retention Payment is a government funded grant. The payments operate independently of the Children’s Services Award 2020.
If you have set up custom allowances to facilitate the Worker Retention Payment in Tanda, additional review of this configuration may be required to align the payment rates with the translated classification rates.
To assist, our Compliance Team has prepared a short video which demonstrates the process to update custom Worker Retention Payments that are facilitated via all-purpose allowances in Tanda via CSV import.
The above video should be used as a guide only. The rates and effective dates of the Worker Retention Payment that are applicable to your business may differ.
For further details on the minimum payment rates for the Worker Retention Payment, please refer to the Australian Government Department of Education website.
We recommend updating your Worker Retention Payments in Staging first before uploading the changes into the live environment to validate the pay outcomes and effective dates are correct for your requirements.
Further Information
If you have any further questions regarding the above, please contact our Support Team via live chat or email (support@tanda.co).
For more information on the Children's Services Managed Template, please see:
Additional information on the Gender-based undervaluation - priority awards review case can be found below: