Where to get more help

For more information, contact your local Department of Education Early Childhood Improvement Branch (ECIB), which can provide tailored support. Their specialist staff work with early childhood staff, services and providers. They offer advice and resources to help services with the implementation of the Best Start, Best Life reforms.

The department also holds meetings and events that can help you and your team:

Early Learning Leadership Forums – held in each of the 17 department areas twice a year, these forums provide a valuable opportunity for service and organisational leaders to connect locally
Best Start, Best Life Evening Leadership Series – statewide hybrid events held twice each year to keep the sector informed on the reforms
Early Years Learning Networks – over 60 local networks meet once each term, where teachers share learning, build collaborative connections, drive continuous quality improvement and embed the reforms in their practice.

You may also consider contacting the following early childhood education peak body that best represents you and your service for additional assistance. These peak bodies are funded by the Department of Education to provide support to both members and non-members to implement the Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms.

The Australian Childcare Alliance Victoria (ACAV) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to championing the needs of privately owned long day care services.
ACAV offers practical, hands-on support across a wide range of areas critical to the effective running of early learning services, including:
- compliance and day-to-day operations
- employee and industrial relations, including award interpretation, entitlements and performance matters
- workforce planning and strategy
- sector reform, policy changes and regulatory developments.
Services can get in touch with ACAV through their contact page.
Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) is the peak body representing and supporting community-operated, not-for-profit early childhood education and care providers.
ELAA provides support in areas such as:
- implementation of the Best Start, Best Life reforms
- governance (clarification of obligations as a committee, constitutional changes, decision making)
- HR management (general HR advice, including in relation to the contents of the Employee Management and Development resource)
- management of complaints, and the addressing of community/committee conflict
- financial management (planning, budgeting, reporting)
- business management (sustainable programs, efficient business models and practices).
Members can also receive additional tailored support for IR issues and payroll.
Services can get in touch with ELAA through their contact page.
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is a membership association and the legislated peak body for local government in Victoria. MAV provides their local council members a network of advisory committees that meet every quarter, and provides members with information and advice about the Best Start, Best Life reforms.
The Department of Education also partner with MAV on other funded supports including the Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) and the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Kindergarten Participation Project.
Councils can get in touch with MAV through their contact page.

Resources

Events for service and organisational leaders(opens in a new window): for upcoming dates of Early Learning Leadership Forums and the Best Start, Best Life Evening Leadership Series.
Early Years Learning Networks for early childhood teachers(opens in a new window): for more information around the Early Years Learning Networks and how to get involved.

Your feedback is important

This guide will be regularly updated as the Best Start, Best Life reforms progress. The department welcomes your feedback on this resource.

Email: bsbl.change.management@education.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

Updated 3 December 2025