More than a thousand childcare workers have walked off the job on International Women's Day in protest their pay rates.
Early childhood educators from every state and territory will stopped work from 3.20pm on Wednesday afternoon.
The United Voice union has labelled the "gross underpayment" of an overwhelmingly female workforce a national disgrace and has called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to fix it.
"Parents respect the critical contribution of educators to their children - Mr Turnbull needs to demonstrate that he does too by funding equal pay," assistant national secretary Helen Gibbons said in a statement.
Ms Gibbons says 97 per cent of childcare workers are women, but that does not make it women's work.
She said parents' support for the strike had been overwhelming, claiming many had vowed to walk off with their educators.
WATCH: Australians pay more for childcare than most other countries
Early childhood educator Julie Lofts told SBS News the low pay rates effected her life.
"I live pay cheque to pay cheque. I don't have a mortgage because a bank will not look at me," she said.
Fellow childcare worker Narelle Lawton agreed saying, "we do love our job but love doesn't pay the bills".
Australian Council of Trade Unions president, Ged Kearney, said low pay rates meant care was not as good as it could be.
"There is high turnover in this sector, there is disenfranchisement, there's low morale, that cannot mean there is high quality child care," she said.
United Voice secretary Jo-Anne Schofield said childcare workers wanted their wage to reflect their high standard of work.
"Educators have fought for and achieved national quality standards for early learning and development," she said.
"They have fought for and achieved quality education and learning for children, that puts children and families at the center.
"And what they're now fighting for is professional recognition and the sort of pay that properly values the work that they do and the benefit that they bring to the community."
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced it will expand a program that gives pre-employment training to women looking to return to work.
Pilot projects in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, in partnership with UnitingCare Australia, will be extended to NSW and the ACT.
Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said the government was committing $10 million over the next three years to the 'Launch to Work' program.
"This program is designed to create new partnerships with not-for-profits and businesses which are ready to invest in Australian women," Senator Cash said in a statement.
She noted the government's investment in child care and domestic violence campaigns reflected the government's support for Australian women.
- with AAP
