Leading with heart: How Inspire Early Years Management is reimagining support for ECEC services

Across Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, centre owners and educators are often united by passion but stretched by the demands of compliance, operations and leadership. It’s this reality that sparked the creation of Inspire Early Years Management: a consultancy founded with the belief that quality practice and sustainable leadership can and should go hand in hand.

Candice and Cassie as the Co-Founders from Inspire Early Years Management recently sat down with The Sector to share insights into the organisation’s origins, philosophy, and the impact it’s having on early childhood education and care services across Australia.

Fiona: What inspired you to launch Inspire Early Years Management, and what gap were you hoping to fill in the sector?

Candice and Cassie: Inspire Early Years Management was born from a simple but powerful realisation: so many amazing centre owners and educators were pouring their hearts into their work, yet still feeling overwhelmed by the demands of running a service. We could see their passion, but also their exhaustion. With our experience in the sector, we knew there was a better way, one where quality education and care and strong business practice could coexist, and where children, educators and families could all truly thrive. We created Inspire to take some of that pressure off, to walk alongside owners and leaders, and to help them refocus on what matters most: creating warm, inspiring spaces where children can grow and learn at their own pace.

Fiona: Can you tell us about the meaning behind the name “Inspire Early Years Management”? What does “Inspire” represent to you both?

Candice and Cassie: “Inspire” reflects everything we stand for. It’s about sparking passion, purpose and possibility in every aspect of early childhood education. For us, to inspire means to uplift children, educators and owners alike. We wanted a name that captured our belief that great outcomes begin with inspired people: leaders who care deeply, teams who feel supported, and environments where everyone can thrive.

Fiona: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced since launching the consultancy, and how have you worked through them?

Candice and Cassie: One of the biggest challenges has been helping services shift from a reactive mindset, constantly putting out fires, to a proactive, sustainable way of leading. Change takes time and trust, especially when people are under pressure. We’ve worked through this by meeting services where they are, listening first, and co-creating solutions that feel achievable and meaningful. Building long-term relationships and celebrating small wins has been key.

Fiona: Can you share a case study or example where your partnership with a service made a measurable difference to outcomes for children, educators or families?

Candice and Cassie: We recently partnered with a regional centre that was struggling with educator turnover and inconsistent practices. Together, we implemented a clear leadership framework, strengthened communication systems, and prioritised educator wellbeing. Within two months, staff retention had increased by 40%, and family feedback reflected greater confidence in the service. The most rewarding part was seeing educators rediscover their joy and children flourish in a more stable, connected environment.

Fiona: How do you balance operational or compliance-focused support with nurturing a values-based, child-centred approach to leadership?

Candice and Cassie: For us, compliance and care go hand in hand. Strong systems create the foundation that allows creativity and connection to thrive. We help services see compliance not as a burden, but as a tool for quality and consistency. Our approach is always grounded in values, every policy, process or practice we introduce must align with what’s best for children and educators.

Fiona: What are some of the most common challenges services bring to you, and how do you support them to overcome these?

Candice and Cassie: Common challenges include staffing shortages, leadership transitions and maintaining quality during times of growth. We support services by providing structure, clarity and mentoring, helping leaders feel confident and equipped to manage complexity. Often, it’s about creating calm in the chaos and ensuring teams feel heard and supported. With the right guidance, even the most overwhelmed services can rediscover balance and joy in their work.

Fiona: How does your work align with the National Quality Framework (NQF) and National Quality Standard (NQS)? Are there particular Quality Areas that you often focus on?

Candice and Cassie: Our work is deeply aligned with the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standard, these frameworks guide everything we do. We often focus on Quality Area 1 Educational Program and Practice and Quality Area 7 Governance and Leadership, as they shape how quality is lived out day to day. By strengthening leadership, systems and reflective practice, we help services achieve continuous improvement across all areas of the NQS. One of the first things we look at is a service’s philosophy and review this to ensure it is embedded and translated within every aspect of the centre’s operations.

Fiona: From your perspective, how important is leadership in shaping service culture, educator retention and family trust?

Candice and Cassie: Leadership is everything. The way a leader shows up sets the tone for the entire service, it shapes how educators feel, how families connect, and ultimately, how children experience education and care. When leadership is strong, supportive and values-driven, educators feel empowered and stay longer, families feel confident and connected, and the whole culture uplifts. At Inspire Early Years Management, we believe great leadership doesn’t just manage, it inspires.

Fiona: What advice would you give to new centre owners or directors who feel overwhelmed by regulations and management pressures?

Candice and Cassie: It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, the world of early childhood education comes with so many moving parts, from compliance and staffing to building relationships with families. Our advice is to take a deep breath and remember why you started. The heart of this work is about children, connection and community. You don’t have to do it all alone. Surround yourself with people who understand the sector and can offer guidance, whether that’s mentors, networks or a management partner like us. Focus on building strong systems and trusting your team. When everyone understands their role and feels supported, the load becomes lighter. Leadership in this space isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress, compassion and staying grounded in your purpose. And here at Inspire Early Years Management, we want you to feel inspired.

Fiona: Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the early years sector in Australia, and how do you see Inspire contributing to that?

Candice and Cassie: Our vision is for an early years sector where every child experiences excellence, where educators feel valued, leaders are empowered, and families feel part of something truly special. We want to see sustainability, not burnout; inspiration, not overwhelm. Through Inspire Early Years Management, we’ll continue to support services to lead with heart and purpose, creating a ripple effect of quality, connection and joy across the sector.

To learn more, visit Inspire Early Years Management.