23 June 2026
Latest News
The Australian Childcare Alliance, in partnership with Workinitiatives, has launched the sector's first, dedicated national jobs and skills platform, designed to directly address critical workforce shortages in Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.
The new platform, WorkinEarlyLearning, has been built specifically for Australia's ECEC sector, live now at WorkinEarlyLearning.com.au.
It will connect jobseekers with employers across all Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) occupations, making it easier for service providers to find the right people, for the right roles, at the right time.
The launch marks an immediate, sector-led response to ongoing staffing pressures that continue to impact early learning services nationwide, with flow-on effects for families, workforce participation, and local economies.
A sector-led response to urgent workforce needs
Australia's early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is the foundation the rest of the workforce stands on. When ECEC service providers can't find or keep qualified educators, the ripple effects reach far beyond individual services and communities. They affect the family budgets, employment rates and economic participation of every parent who relies on a place for their child.
Australian Childcare Alliance President Paul Mondo said the platform represents a practical, industry-driven solution to long-standing workforce pressures.
“Our members tell us, day in and day out, that finding and retaining high-quality, qualified educators is one of the single biggest challenges they face,” Mr Mondo said.
“WorkinEarlyLearning provides our sector with a tool built to meet the needs and realities of early learning. This is not a generic jobs board, but a platform designed around the skills, values and people that make great educators. This partnership reflects exactly the kind of practical, industry-led solution the sector needs.”
Workinitiatives Co-Founder Chris Carman said the platform builds on a proven model already applied across other essential industries.
“There is no shortage of people who want meaningful work, but the systems connecting them to it have not kept pace,” Mr Carman said.
“Early childhood education and care is one of the most important workforces in the country. WorkinEarlyLearning is about giving the sector the tools to find, support and grow the educators Australia’s children need.”
Building the ECEC workforce we need
According to Jobs and Skills Australia (2024 Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce Capacity Study), Australia requires at least 21,000 additional qualified educators to meet current demand and a further 36,000 educators over the next decade to meet projected growth.
Regional, rural and remote communities are experiencing the most acute shortages, with many services struggling to maintain consistent staffing levels.
While retention has improved in some areas, workforce uncertainty and qualification completion rates continue to present ongoing challenges.
The platform built by the sector, for the sector
WorkinEarlyLearning, developed in close partnership with the Australian Childcare Alliance, is a dedicated platform designed specifically for Australia’s early childhood education and care sector. It connects job seekers with employers across all early childhood education and care occupations, making it easier for service providers to identify and secure the right people for the right roles at the right time.
For employers and providers, the platform enables them to post roles to a targeted, sector-specific job-seeking audience and the full Workinitiatives network of national industry and community platforms, while accessing pre-qualified candidates from across Australia and overseas. It streamlines international hiring with migration specialist support and labour market testing, integrates with existing HR and ATS systems, and lets service providers showcase themselves with personalised videos to attract top candidates.
For job seekers, WorkinEarlyLearning makes it simple to browse ECEC jobs matched to skills, values and lifestyle, access career pathways, training information and sector insights, stand out to employers with a video resume, and connect directly with services that are actively hiring.
Launching at a critical moment for early learning
With demand for early childhood education continuing to rise, the sector’s ability to deliver high-quality, accessible early learning services will depend heavily on sustained workforce growth.
The launch of WorkinEarlyLearning represents a significant step toward strengthening that workforce pipeline - supporting educators, service providers, and families alike.
The platform is now live at WorkinEarlyLearning.com.au.
