By BEST Childcare Consulting
Every thriving early childhood service has one thing in common — a leader who holds it all together. Someone who answers every question, signs every form, comforts every child, supports every educator, and somehow keeps the service running with calm, compassion, and courage.
On November 10, 2025, we celebrate those remarkable people — our ECEC Directors — the heart and backbone of early childhood education and care in Australia. Directors’ Day is a special moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you to the leaders who do so much more than manage: they nurture, guide, and inspire everyone around them.
This day is separate from Early Childhood Educators’ Day, because leadership in ECEC deserves its own light — a day to honour the people who lift others up, navigate the complex world of regulations and relationships, and still find time to connect with every child, family, and educator in their community.
Today, and every day, we recognise the directors who lead with both heart and skill — who carry the weight of responsibility quietly, and whose dedication shapes not only services, but futures.
The Many Hats of a Director
Directors in early childhood education are leaders, mentors, administrators, and advocates—often all before morning tea. They navigate a world of shifting regulations, budget pressures, family communication, and compliance requirements, while ensuring every child and educator feels safe, valued, and supported.
A director’s day may begin with policy reviews or compliance checks and end with helping toddlers paint or comforting a child missing their parent. Between those moments lie countless unseen tasks—rostering, risk assessments, staff mentoring, family meetings, health and safety oversight, and engagement with regulatory bodies such as ECRU (Education and Care Regulatory Unit WA) and ACECQA.
It is demanding, complex, and deeply human work—balancing the administrative with the emotional, the regulatory with the relational.
Acknowledging Directors in 2025
This year, more than ever, directors deserve recognition. 2025 has been a transformative year in ECEC—marked by new national reforms, evolving child safety frameworks, digital-technology and online safety policy updates, and the rollout of initiatives such as the National Educator Register and enhanced CCS Provider Compliance Spot Checks.
Directors have led their teams through this change with professionalism and care. They have guided educators to remain informed, supported, and confident amid increasing compliance expectations—while never losing sight of what matters most: delivering exceptional education and care for children.
This year’s leadership has required:
- Staying abreast of complex new regulatory amendments and ECRU circulars
- Ensuring staff professional learning keeps pace with national updates
- Supporting educator wellbeing through change fatigue
- Translating new policies into practical, meaningful practice
Directors have been the quiet champions—ensuring educators have the resources, confidence, and encouragement to do their best work.
Thank you for:
- Listening to your teams and families with empathy
- Creating miracles daily in balancing staffing, safety, and quality
- Making sure educators have what they need to thrive in this challenging yet rewarding profession
Leaders Who Lift Others
Great directors don’t just manage—they inspire. They cultivate cultures where educators grow, families feel heard, and children thrive. They drive quality improvement, lead reflection, and model professionalism that strengthens the reputation of the entire ECEC sector.
When a service achieves an Exceeding rating, celebrates a child’s developmental milestone, or welcomes a new family with warmth and inclusion—there’s a director behind the scenes ensuring the systems, people, and philosophy align to make it happen.
How to Celebrate Directors’ Day
Host a Morning Tea or Celebration
Gather your team, families, and children for a simple shared moment.
You can find printable celebration ideas and thank-you templates via:
Early Childhood Australia – Recognition and Celebration Resources https://thrivebyfive.org.au/
Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) Celebration Ideas https://www.cela.org.au/
Create a “Wall of Thanks”
Invite families and children to write or draw notes of appreciation. Display them in the foyer or staff room.
You can design digital or printable “thank you” cards via Canva for Education. https://www.canva.com/education/
Share Gratitude Publicly
Post a photo or story on your service’s social media, tagging your director and including hashtags such as #DirectorsDayECEC, #ThankYouDirectors, and #EarlyLearningLeadership.
Refer to Early Childhood Australia’s Social Media Guidelines for professional communication tips. https://thrivebyfive.org.au/resources/
Give a Small Gift or Token
A team-made gift or hand-written letter can mean far more than anything purchased.
Consider a team “gratitude jar,” where educators and families contribute short notes celebrating leadership moments. Reflect Together
Hold a brief team meeting to reflect on the question:
“What has our director made possible for children, families, and staff this year?”
This activity can be linked to your QIP reflections under QA7 – Governance and Leadership.
The Weight of Responsibility
Directors carry enormous accountability. They are responsible for:
- Regulatory compliance across all seven Quality Areas
- Governance and financial oversight
- Team leadership and wellbeing
- Child safety, inclusion, and advocacy
- Partnerships with families and communities
- Professional growth and continuous improvement
The challenges can be heavy, but so is the impact. A strong director creates the conditions for joy, learning, and belonging to flourish—every single day.
A Message from BEST Childcare Consulting
To every director leading with integrity, empathy, and resilience—thank you.
Your leadership shapes futures. You hold the threads that keep children safe, educators inspired, and families connected
We see the paperwork, the after-hours emails, the weekend planning, and the countless invisible acts that make your service run with heart.
Today, we celebrate you.
