Reclaiming Joy: Why connection, curiosity and care still matter in early childhood education

In a sector that has weathered intense scrutiny, reform and deep sorrow, a quiet truth remains: the work of early childhood education is still one of the most powerful, purposeful and profoundly human callings.

Across centres, communities and classrooms, early childhood educators continue to show up with compassion, courage and commitment even when the path ahead feels heavy. 

The last week and days have tested the sector’s strength in every imaginable way. But within the noise, something steady has held: the daily rhythm of care.

The warm welcome at the door. The tiny hands reaching for guidance. The stories, the songs, the questions, the wonder.

This is the joy that cannot be measured but is deeply felt. And it is this joy that now, more than ever, must be protected and reclaimed.

Amid the ongoing conversations around compliance, policy and reform, each important in their own right, there is also a deep need to return to the heart of early learning: human connection.

Educators are not just managing frameworks. They are shaping futures. They are creating safe spaces for children to explore, to belong, to be heard. They are often the calm in the storm of a child’s life. And they do so with humility, rarely seeking recognition.

And it does not matter what language they speak at home, what race, gender or background they come from every child is worthy of safety, respect and learning. Educators brings something vital to the fabric of early learning.

Even on the hardest days, there’s always a moment of a child’s laugh, a breakthrough, a hug that reminds me why I began my career in ECEC more than three decades ago. I hold onto that, this is my anchor.

For many in the profession, burnout is real. The pressures are mounting. But so too is the resolve to find meaning in the everyday. Sector leaders are calling for a cultural renewal one that not only acknowledges the challenges, but also reaffirms the immense value of this work.

Centres are introducing wellbeing rituals. Peer-to-peer mentoring is on the rise. Time is being carved out for reflection not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

Sector-wide, this shift is gaining momentum. The upcoming ECEC Workforce and Wellbeing Forum in Melbourne on 17 July is one such opportunity bringing together educators, leaders, and thinkers to explore sustainable, human-centred approaches to professional practice and wellbeing. The forum offers space to share strategies, renew purpose and reimagine what a thriving workforce can look like.

The message is clear: educators deserve to feel seen, supported and celebrated.

Because when educators feel connected, children thrive. As the National Quality Standard reminds us, secure and respectful relationships are the foundation of learning. But those relationships begin with the adults in the room who need just as much care as they give.

Shaping Hearts and Minds is more than a tagline. It’s true. Behind every regulation and policy document is a real human story: a child searching for safety, and an educator offering it.

So let this be a turning point not just for reform, but for reconnection.

A moment to honour the quiet, extraordinary work that happens every day in early learning settings across the country.

A moment to remember that in a world that often forgets the value of care, early childhood educators are holding the future with open hands and open hearts.