Supports for early career and returning early childhood professionals

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff are at the heart of Victoria's education system. The Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms are bringing big changes. These include funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and the new Pre-Prep year. With changes this large, it is important to recognise, grow and support our current workforce.

The Victorian Government has invested over $6 million through the BSBL reforms. This funding gives early career and returning teachers and educators the support they need most in their first 5 years of work.

Since the career support programs started, more than 3,000 early childhood teachers and educators have taken part and benefited from these professional supports.

Victorian Early Childhood Early Career Supports

The department is providing a refreshed Victorian Early Childhood Early Career Supports (VECECS) program. It supports early career and returning Early Childhood Teachers (ECTs) and educators in their first five years of career.

You are considered a returning early childhood teacher or educator if you are:

• returning as a teacher or an educator after being away for 12 months
• transitioning from teaching in Primary education to ECEC
• joining the Victorian ECEC from another state in Australia
• joining the Victorian ECEC from overseas.

The program offers conferences, workshops and coaching. These give you tools to confidently move from study into work, build your professional identity, and grow your professional resilience. The goal is to help you find your way in the early childhood system and stay in the sector.

This program will roll out in stages from Term 2 to Term 4 2026 on the Early Childhood Hub platform which has a wide range of high-quality resources to support you at every stage of your career.

Beginning Teacher Conferences

The Beginning Teacher Conference (BTC) series helps you at the start of your teaching career. Each conference offers practical strategies, group discussions and chances to network.

You are eligible if:

• you are an early childhood teacher in the first year of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program
• you are going to graduate as an early childhood teachers in the next 12 months and working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

Save the dates in 2026:

Sign up to express your interest via Early Childhood Hub - EOI: Beginning Teacher Conferences.

Early Career Workshops

Early Career Workshops support you to build key skills in:

• administrative time management,
• handling difficult situations through clear communication in multicultural and inclusive settings,
• support families with complex needs and use ethical influence while learning to look after yourself.

Each workshop has two parts: an e-learning module and an online half-day session.

You are eligible if:

• you are an early childhood teacher or educator in first five years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program
• you are a returning early childhood teacher or educator from a break in service and working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

Sign up to the Early Childhood Hub for registrations going live Term 4 2026.

Early Career Coaching

The coaching program combines eLearning modules with one-on-one coaching. You can access up to 7 to 9.5 hours of coaching. It is a structured, guided learning experience with four pathways.

1. Transition from study to work

   This pathway builds your "big picture" thinking. You will learn how your daily choices affect your whole organisation. It also builds your confidence in using regulations and practice frameworks.

   • You get 3 hours of self-paced e-learning and up to 4 hours of coaching if you are an early childhood teacher or educator in the first 2 years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

   Refresh

   This pathway helps you refresh your "Big picture" thinking and rebuilds your confidence in using best practice frameworks.

   • You get 1.5 hours of self-paced e-learning and up to 1.5 hours of coaching if you are a returning early childhood teacher or educator, or in the 3 - 5 years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

2. Wellbeing and professional resilience

   This pathway supports your wellbeing and builds your resilience through reflective coaching. You will look at your core values, beliefs and experiences. You will think about how you see yourself in the profession, how you respond to others, and how to build your own wellbeing toolkit.

   • You get 2 hours of self-paced e-learning and up to 2 hours of coaching if you are a returning early childhood teacher or educator or in first 5 years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

3. Career planning

   This pathway helps you plan your career and think ahead. Through guided visioning and goal setting, you will spot chances to grow and lead.

   • You get 3 hours of self-paced e-learning and up to 2 hours of coaching if you are a returning early childhood teacher or educator or in first 5 years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program.

Sign up to the Early Childhood Hub for registrations going live Term 4 2026.

Early Career Alumni Conference

The conference give returning teachers, and those in their 2nd to 5th years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten programs a supportive space to reflect. You can connect with others, celebrate your journey, and keep growing in the sector. The conference brings early career teachers and educators together with experienced practitioner.It offers mentorship, buddy matching and networking.

You are eligible if:

• you are an early childhood teacher or educator in 2-5 years of working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program
• or you are a returning early childhood teacher or educator from a break in service and working in an early childhood service with a funded kindergarten program
• and you have attended End to End career supports offering coaching and communities of practice, Beginning Teacher Conference, and current Early Career workshop and Early Career Coaching.

Save the date for 2026:

We will email eligible attendees to complete their registration closer to date.