Goodstart was founded in 2010 as a not-for-profit social enterprise by four leading charities that understood the power of early learning to transform children’s lives, particularly those experiencing vulnerability: Mission Australia, The Benevolent Society, The Brotherhood of St Laurence, and Social Ventures Australia.

Goodstart exists to give Australia’s children the best possible start in life. Goodstart is Australia’s largest early learning provider – employing more than 15,000 educators, teachers and early learning professionals – who positively shape the lives of more than 61,400 children in their first five years through inclusive, high-quality early learning and teaching across 654 communities.

As a not-for-profit early learning provider, Goodstart’s surplus is reinvested in their people, practices and programs to continue supporting its teams to make a positive impact on children’s learning, development and wellbeing. For every $1 we invest at Goodstart in our targeted social purpose investments, $5.60 of value is returned to children, families and the community. Goodstart’s social impact drives their ongoing work at large to build the recognition of their workforce and improve their professional identity– both at Goodstart and beyond.

Goodstart’s quality exceeds the sector average thanks to a focus on practice uplift. This is made possible by its passionate and dedicated educators, teachers, and early learning professionals, who are also supported with wrap-around support. Last year alone, Goodstart invested more than $23M in high-quality and evidence-based professional learning and development (up from $19M the year prior).

Goodstart believes all employees – Goodstarters – should feel supported to be the best they can be. From informal thank you campaigns to improving working conditions, their value proposition and strategic goal, ‘Amazing Goodstarter Experience,’ keeps its people front and centre. Goodstart aims to provide a healthy work-life balance, security and support, safe, inclusive and welcoming environments, and personal and career opportunities through defined career pathways.

Over the past two years, Goodstart has listened to its people’s needs and worked to implement improved benefits and better conditions. Above-award wages increased non-contact time, and flexible work arrangements are just some of the ways Goodstart recognises and supports its people. Just last year, in a sector where paid parental leave offers are limited, Goodstart increased paid parental leave to six weeks, up from four weeks in 2022. Goodstart knows that substantial discounts they offer its people for their own children’s early learning and care (50% early learning discount for educators, teachers and cooks) are important.

Goodstart is working to increase the diversity of its workforce, offering traineeships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators and establishing communities of practice for under-represented groups.

Goodstarters do amazing work daily and are recognised in their much-anticipated annual internal awards, the Goodies, and other formal and informal recognition initiatives, including the ‘You Make The Difference’ campaigns.

Evidently, Goodstart consistently invests in its people to ensure children receive the best possible start to life and the support they need.

For information about Goodstart Early Learning, visit goodstart.org.au