The Employee Life Cycle Isn’t Seven Boxes to Tick. It’s One Machine.
I’ve sat across the table from enough Directors and Boards now to see the same pattern play out, almost word for word. “Our onboarding is great, I don’t understand why people keep leaving.” “We pay well above award, so why can’t we hold onto good educators?” “We had a fantastic Educational Leader for four months, […]
Childcare Interview Questions: What to Ask When Hiring Educators
Hiring the right people in early childhood education isn’t simply about filling a roster. The educators you bring into your service influence children’s experiences, relationships with families, team culture and, ultimately, the quality of care you provide. But finding the right candidate can be challenging – particularly when a CV only tells you part of […]
7 Ways to Celebrate Early Childhood Educators’ Day 2026
Every day, early childhood educators make a lasting impact on children’s lives. They create safe, engaging learning environments, build strong relationships with families and support children’s development during some of their most important years. Early Childhood Educators’ Day 2026 is the perfect opportunity to recognise the incredible work your team does throughout the year. While […]
The Paramountcy Principle in ECE & OSHC
I was catching up with a good friend recently (shout out to Steph) over a hot chocolate and we got talking about the paramountcy principle. The conversation got pretty deep pretty quickly, and I left thinking, someone needs to write this down, because this matters more than most people in our sector realise. Steph made […]
What’s Changing for Childcare Employers from 1 July 2026? Wage Increases, Worker Retention Payments & Award Rates Explained
If you’re an approved early childhood education and care provider, 1 July 2026 marks one of the biggest payroll updates of the year. Rather than a single change, employers are navigating three separate workforce reforms that all impact employee wages and payroll compliance. The next stage of the Fair Work Commission’s Gender Undervaluation Decision is […]
NSW Child Safety Reforms: What ECEC Providers Need to Know
NSW Child Safety Reforms: What ECEC Providers Need to Know On 24 April 2026, a new tranche of NSW child safety reforms came into effect for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across New South Wales. The reforms are designed to strengthen child-safe practices across the sector and place greater emphasis on provider accountability, […]
What Mikel Arteta Can Teach Us About Leading in ECE and OSHC
I need to start with a confession that has absolutely nothing to do with recruitment. I am a die-hard Arsenal fan. Have been my whole life. And this week, after seven years of following this particular journey, after the near misses and the heartbreaks and three consecutive times finishing second, Arsenal were crowned Premier League […]
What Does OSHC Mean?
If you’ve come across the term “OSHC” and found yourself scratching your head, you’re not alone. Whether you’re a parent looking for care options for your child, or an educator exploring a rewarding career path, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about OSHC in plain, simple language. What Is OSHC? […]
Belonging Is Not a Display Board
What the NQF and Frameworks Actually Mean When They Talk About Belonging Belonging is one of the most used words in education and care. It’s in our frameworks. It’s in our policies. It’s on our walls. But I often wonder if we’ve made it smaller than it was ever intended to be. What is Belonging? Belonging isn’t a display board of family […]
The Biggest Mistakes When Hiring Centre Directors (and What to Do Instead)
Let me say this upfront, most Approved Providers are doing their absolute best. They’re hiring under pressure. They’re juggling compliance, staffing ratios, families, budgets, and their own wellbeing. And often, they’re trying to hire a Centre Director at the exact moment they can least afford to get it wrong. So when we talk about “mistakes”, this isn’t about blame. It’s about patterns we see every single week working in early […]