Empowered Leaders: Goodstart's new co-designed program to strengthen ECEC leadership

Goodstart Early Learning has launched Empowered Leaders, a new leadership development program designed specifically for the realities of leading in early childhood education and care. Co-designed with Centre Directors and Network Operations leaders, the program reflects Goodstart's commitment to building leadership capability while supporting quality outcomes for children and families.

Developed as part of Goodstart's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, the program supports emerging, new and experienced leaders to build the practical skills, confidence and knowledge needed to lead high-performing teams in a complex and evolving sector. 

Empowered Leaders brings together three elements not often found in a single program: a nationally recognised Diploma of Leadership and Management, practical workplace application and content co-designed by ECEC leaders. Centre Directors and Network Operations leaders played a key role in shaping both the content and learning experience, ensuring it reflects the realities of leading in early learning services.

Goodstart Chief People and Culture Officer Natalie Townsend said it was essential that the voices of Centre Directors were at the centre of the design process. “Our Centre Directors are doing this work every day within an ever-evolving landscape of legislation while also ensuring that children continue to be paramount to every decision they make. Their voice was essential in the design and development to ensure the leadership program delivered what they need every day,” Ms Townsend said.

Delivered in partnership with CTA Training, a Registered Training Organisation, Empowered Leaders combines face-to-face workshops, self-paced learning and practical workplace-based assessments. Participants apply their learning directly to the challenges and opportunities they encounter in their centres while building capability alongside peers from across the organisation.

Structured across four learning blocks delivered over eight months, the program is designed to make leadership development manageable, practical and relevant. Participants are supported throughout the journey by Goodstart's Learning and Organisational Development team, CTA trainers and assessors, their leaders and a connected peer cohort. 

Early participant feedback has highlighted the practical nature of the program and the impact leaders are already seeing in their centres. 

"The program delivered more than I hoped. From the first session we felt engaged, heard and understood. We worked through real-life scenarios, learned from each other's experiences and took practical ideas back to our teams. What surprised me most was how quickly I started applying what I'd learned in everyday conversations and decisions. It became learning that I was implementing daily."

Ms Townsend said investing in leadership capability was critical to supporting leaders to navigate the challenges of a complex sector while creating positive experiences for teams, children and families. “Great outcomes for children start with strong, confident leaders. Empowered Leaders is an important investment in our people, giving Goodstart leaders the practical skills, support and shared language they need to lead thriving teams and deliver high-quality early learning,” Ms Townsend said.

In Queensland, the delivery of the leadership and management program is supported through a partnership between Goodstart and the Queensland Government. Through Empowered Leaders, Goodstart is continuing to invest in the capability of its leaders, strengthening decision-making, team effectiveness and leadership consistency across its services.

By combining nationally recognised qualifications with practical, workplace-based learning, Empowered Leaders has been designed to reflect the realities of leadership in early childhood education and care. The program provides leaders with opportunities to learn alongside peers, build confidence and apply new skills in their centres from day one. As the ECEC sector continues to focus on attracting, developing and retaining great leaders, Empowered Leaders reflects Goodstart's commitment to investing in the people who make quality early learning possible.

The Empowered Leaders Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

To learn more about a career at Goodstart Early Learning, click here.