The Sector Connect + ECEC Workforce and Wellbeing Forum 2026

As Early Childhood Education and Care is increasingly recognised as essential national infrastructure, workforce policy plays a critical role in shaping the sector’s sustainability, quality, and equity. This panel explores the complex policy environment affecting workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and professional development, providing insights for leaders, policymakers, and practitioners alike.

Discussion Focus Areas:

Policy drivers and workforce outcomes 
How national, state, and local policies impact staffing, qualifications, and sector growth.

Funding and regulation alignment 
Examining how funding models, regulatory frameworks, and compliance requirements influence workforce stability and program quality.

Equity and access in workforce development 
Addressing disparities across rural, regional, and disadvantaged communities.

Qualification pathways and professional recognition 
Supporting consistent, accessible, and high-quality training and career progression opportunities.

Future-proofing workforce policy 
Anticipating sector growth, demographic changes, and emerging workforce needs to create adaptable and forward-looking policies.

Participants will gain practical understanding of how workforce policy shapes the ECEC sector, strategies to influence policy outcomes, and insights into aligning organisational and government efforts to build a sustainable, skilled, and resilient workforce.

As early learning gains recognition as essential social and economic infrastructure, sustainable workforce planning has never been more critical. This panel discussion explores how we can move beyond short-term staffing fixes and take a long-term, systems-based approach to strengthening our workforce, one that aligns with sector reforms and the growing recognition of Early Childhood Education and Care as foundational to thriving communities.

Framed around the idea of workforce planning as long-term building, the conversation will examine practical and strategic solutions to ensure the sector is equipped to meet future demand while maintaining quality and stability.

Discussion Focus Areas:

Pipeline development 
Creating strong school-to-qualification pathways that attract, prepare, and transition new entrants into meaningful, supported careers in ECEC.

Retention strategies beyond wages 
Exploring career progression, professional recognition, workplace culture, wellbeing supports, and flexible employment models that keep educators engaged for the long term.

Rural and regional workforce solutions 
Addressing unique geographic challenges through innovative training delivery, community partnerships, and place-based workforce strategies.

Leadership succession planning 
Building the next generation of leaders through mentoring, capability development, and structured pathways into management and governance roles.

Aligning workforce supply with demand forecasts 
Strengthening data, collaboration, and policy alignment to ensure workforce growth keeps pace with service expansion and community needs.

Designed for sector leaders, policymakers, service providers, and educators, this session will offer practical insights, strategic perspectives, and forward-thinking solutions to build a resilient, sustainable workforce for the future.

This session reframes workforce wellbeing from a “nice-to-have” add-on to a core strategic imperative. As the demands on Early Childhood Education and Care professionals grow, embedding wellbeing into workforce planning is essential for sustainable, high-quality practice.

Discussion Focus Areas:

Preventing burnout through structural design 
How workplace systems, schedules, and policies can reduce stress before it starts.

Leadership capability and psychological safety 
Building leaders who foster trust, open communication, and resilient teams.

Managing regulatory pressure 
Balancing compliance requirements with staff wellbeing and practical support.

Sustainable workload expectations 
Aligning roles, responsibilities, and staffing levels to realistic and healthy standards.

Measuring wellbeing impact 
Using data and indicators to track, evaluate, and enhance workforce wellbeing outcomes.

This panel is ideal for leaders, managers, and policymakers committed to embedding wellbeing into the very framework of workforce strategy, ensuring staff thrive as the sector grows.

This fireside conversation will explore the professional journey, insights and reflections of one of a respected voice in early childhood education.

Moderated by Fiona Alston, Editor of The Sector, this discussion will move beyond policy frameworks to explore the human side of leadership in the ECEC sector.

Together Fiona and Cathrine will explore:

• the experiences that shaped their career in early childhood
• how their thinking about quality, workforce and wellbeing has evolved
• the biggest challenges facing the sector today
• lessons learned from leading through periods of reform and change
• their hopes for the future of early learning in Australia

Through an open and candid conversation, delegates will gain a deeper understanding of the leadership, values and thinking that continue to influence the direction of the ECEC sector.