Thrive Group Tasmania named winner in national employer awards 

Thrive Group has been named winner of Asuria’s Innovative Recruitment Solution Award, standing alongside past finalists such as Coles, Amazon and Woolworths. The award, presented in Sydney on 5 March 2026, recognises Thrive Group’s leadership in creative, inclusive workforce solutions in the early childhood sector.

Since 1975, Thrive Group has provided education and care for Tasmanian children from birth to 13 years of age. As a community-focused not-for-profit, Thrive operates 26 early learning and outside school hours care services across the state, as well as a statewide Family Day Care program.

The organisation delivers education and care in Tasmania’s most remote regions – from Flinders Island to the West Coast, employing more than 150 local people and supporting more than 1,200 families.

The education and care sector continues to face significant workforce shortages nationwide, with challenges most acute in rural, regional and remote communities. These shortages place pressure on service quality and accessibility, highlighting the need for coordinated strategies to grow and sustain a skilled workforce.

To address educator shortages, Thrive Group partnered with Asuria (RTO ID 21912) in February 2025 to offer fully funded Certificate III and Diploma qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care through the Job Seeker Program.

The partnership supports both existing and new educators to gain the qualifications required to work in the sector across centre-based care and family day care settings. Wraparound study support provided by both organisations is contributing to sustainable employment and training pathways in communities that are often underserved.

The award recognises Thrive Group’s approach to building sustainable training, career and employment pathways for Tasmanians in regional and remote areas.

CEO Ed Beswick said: “We are proud of what has been achieved together and look forward to continuing this work supporting educators, families and communities across Tasmania.”

Other Tasmanian nominees included Cripps, Australian Independent Care Services and Costa Group. Cripps received the Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award, recognising its commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion within its business strategy.