Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh
- Minister for Early Childhood Education
- Minister for Youth
Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh was sworn in as Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth on 13 May 2025. Content published on this site relates to the Minister’s responsibilities within the Education portfolio.
Filter Dr Jess Walsh's releases
Supporting early childhood education in Alice Springs
A new community-led early childhood education and care service has opened in Alice Springs creating more opportunities and greater access to quality early education for local First Nations…
Funding agreement reached on preschools
The Albanese Labor Government has struck a preschool funding agreement with the States and Territories, providing funding certainty to the end of 2027.
Opinion piece - The pay rise that's helping educators stay in the jobs they love
This week delivers a big win for the predominantly female workforce in early education and care.
Interview - ABC News
SUBJECTS: 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators; Independent review of the National Quality Framework; Productivity Commission recommendations; 3 Day Guarantee; Building Early Education…
Opinion piece - An historic day for early childhood educators
Today’s five per cent pay rise fully delivers the Albanese Government’s 15 per cent pay rise for educators, a pay rise that new data shows is stabilising early learning.
Press conference - Canberra
SUBJECTS: 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators; Child Care Subsidy; Social media ban.
Interview - ABC Radio National Breakfast
SUBJECTS: Independent review of the National Quality Framework; 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators; Productivity Commission recommendations; Staffing in early education and care;…
Early childhood educators receive 15 per cent pay rise
The Albanese Labor Government has delivered a historic 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, with the final five per cent hitting educators pay packets today.
Early education and care services to close from 5pm a few times a year for mandatory safety training
From next year, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services can close from 5pm on a few days each year to conduct mandatory child safety training.
Legislation passes to strengthen integrity, expand access and improve information across the education system
The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to strengthen the integrity of the international education sector, expand access to medical places for Indigenous students and improve the…
National Child and Family Hubs Network
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which this Conference is being held, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation.
Goodstart 'Goodies' awards night
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet tonight, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to Elders past and present.