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Crowds are gathering in cities across the country as more than 1,000 childcare centres shut down and thousands of early childhood workers protest over pay and conditions.
Key points:
- Early childhood workers are rallying in every state and territory for sector reform
- It is estimated about 70,000 families will be affected by the closure of childcare centres
- Goodstart, Australia's largest not-for-profit childcare provider, says wages do need to be higher
United Workers Union (UWU) early education director Helen Gibbons described the shutdown as "the largest action of early educators that this country has ever seen".
Some centres have closed for a full day, while others have only been shut for a few hours.
The UWU estimated at least 70,000 families would be affected by the closures.
Ms Gibbons said the sector's workers were calling for change because the existing system was: "Not delivering for educators … not delivering for children … and not delivering for families."
"We need real reform," she said.
Ms Gibbons said workers taking part in the industrial action were focusing their efforts on three demands.
"Pay us what we're worth and give us a reason to stay in the sector," she said.
"The second demand is [to] value early education as education in the same way that we value schools.
"And the third demand is to put children before profit."
The action includes every capital city in Australia's states and territories, as well as some regional centres.
In the lead-up to the protests, qualified childcare workers taking part shared with the ABC how low wages were putting them under financial stress, particularly with the rising cost of living.
An entry-level childcare employee is paid just 47 cents above the minimum wage, at an hourly rate of $21.85.
The federal government has committed to a $5 billion reform that will increase subsidies to families using child care from July next year.
But experts have said improved conditions for workers in the sector should be part of the changes as well.
Major operators say some workers will be at rallies
Goodstart Early Learning expects workers from about 200 of its centres to attend rallies but plans to remain open.
The not-for-profit organisation is Australia's largest early learning provider, with 649 childcare centres across the country.
"All of our centres will be open. We have been working with the union to make sure there are enough educators on hand to care for all the children who will be in our centres tomorrow," Goodstart's head of advocacy John Cherry said.
"We know that a lot of parents have opted to pick up their children early so that more of the educators can attend their rallies. A lot of parents are very supportive."
Mr Cherry said Goodstart believed wages needed to be increased, pointing to "a huge gap between what educators are paid in the early childhood sector and what they're paid in government schools".
G8 Education, a private company which runs more than 440 childcare centres in Australia, said the company was aware some workers would be taking part in the industrial action.
"We will support this where we can while ensuring continuity of service is maintained for our families," a spokesperson said.
ABC/AAP