Goodstart appoints new Social Impact GM

Goodstart Early Learning has appointed Myra Geddes to a new role of Social Impact General Manager, to help further amplify the delivery of the company’s social purpose and impact across the country.

Within the role, Ms Geddes will oversee Goodstart’s social impact strategy, policy, measurement, research and evaluation and social inclusion programs and initiatives such as EChO (Enhancing Children’s Outcomes) and Family Connections.

Ms Geddes said she was extremely proud to take on this new role as a passionate advocate for children and advancing Australia’s prosperity by ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.

“Every member of the Goodstart team is delivering our social purpose to over 70,000 children every day because we are part of Australia’s largest not-for-profit social enterprise,” Ms Geddes said.

“This means we have a unique opportunity to not only improve outcomes for children in our services – but we can take what works best for children and families and advocate to extend that to all Australia’s children – including those children who are currently missing out.”

Previously, Ms Geddes has been the senior social policy advisor to two Australian prime ministers and has worked across early childhood education and care, schools, community services and health policy at state and national levels.

Continuing to advocate for social reform to benefit the lives of children and their families will remain a critical part of Ms Geddes’ new role.

“We know that fundamentally, affordability and accessibility to high-quality early learning continue to be key factors for child outcomes in Australia. These key issues will remain an integral part of our social impact work to help maximise the participation of children attending high quality early learning and care in Australia.”

Most recently, Ms Geddes co-wrote Preschool – Two Years are Better Than One with Dr Stacey Fox at the Mitchell Institute which aimed to help compel Australia to pursue a national commitment to ensuring all three-year-olds have access to high-quality early childhood education by offering a second year of preschool.

The report has been quoted several times in Lifting our Game report – an independent review commissioned by state and territory officials in Australia to complement the Commonwealth Government’s Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.