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Company Summary

Company Reviews

About us

Goodstart is Australia’s largest provider of early learning and care. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, we exist purely to improve the lives of Australia’s children and their families.

Goodstart was formed in 2009 thanks to a unique combination of private, public and leading community sector organisations — The Benevolent Society, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Mission Australia and Social Ventures Australia.

We deliver social impact on a national scale by offering evidence-informed early learning and care in hundreds of centres nationally, supporting families and influencing the broader community through our advocacy work, which aims to increase investment in the early years to ensure all children have access to quality early learning.

Goodstart is a social enterprise with social purpose at its heart, but our head operates with business discipline to deliver healthy operating margins for continued investment in centres, people and programs to deliver on our vision and purpose.

We operate 644 early learning centres in all states and territories of Australia, caring for 70,900 children from 59,500 families and employing 14,900 people.

Our vision is for Australia’s children to have the best possible start in life.

Our purpose is to ensure children have the learning, development and wellbeing outcomes they need for school and life.

We're people with purpose

Goodstart is a not-for-profit social enterprise, so we attract people who want to make a difference.

We provide enhanced services and multi-skilled teams to meet a diverse range of learning needs. And we offer our people specialist training so they can help all children, including those with additional needs or facing disadvantage.

Like to know more? Visit: goodstart.org.au

Rating Reviews

Rating is calculated based on 58 reviews and is evolving.

Featured Reviews

Early Childhood Educator
3.7
5 May 2026
Great Place for Passionate Educators with Decent Balance
Pros: I truly appreciate the supportive team environment at my center. Everyone helps each other out, which makes a big difference in a busy childcare setting. There are also solid professional development opportunities for Early Childhood Educators, helping us improve our skills. The focus on children's well-being is genuinely central, and it's a stable not-for-profit in the early learning industry. I also find the work-life balance to be pretty reasonable for this field, which is great.
Cons: Sometimes the administrative workload can feel a bit heavy, taking time away from direct interaction with the children. While professional development is available, the promotion pathway for an Early Childhood Educator can sometimes feel a bit slow or require moving centers. Communication about company-wide initiatives can also occasionally be a bit inconsistent, but it's usually resolved quickly.
Advice to Management: Continue to invest in streamlining administrative tasks to allow educators more direct time with children. Also, clarify and potentially expedite career progression paths for experienced Early Childhood Educators within the organization.
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Early Childhood Educator
3.6
5 May 2026
A great place for educators to develop and feel supported
Pros: I really value the supportive team environment. Colleagues are always ready to help, and there are fantastic professional development opportunities for Early Childhood Educators. The not-for-profit mission feels meaningful, and I've seen real investment in learning resources. It's a stable company in the childcare sector, offering good job security.
Cons: Admin workload can feel heavy, especially during peak reporting. Also, while career growth is encouraged, the promotion path for leadership roles can sometimes be a bit slow.
Advice to Management: Consider streamlining administrative tasks to reduce workload during peak periods, and transparently outline career progression paths, especially for leadership roles, to help educators plan their growth more effectively.
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Early Childhood Educator
3.1
5 April 2026
Flexibility is a Real Challenge for Educators
Pros: The team really tries to help out with shift swaps when they can. It's a supportive environment among colleagues for Early Childhood Educator roles. There's a good sense of community at the center.
Cons: Corporate doesn't offer much flexibility for early learning sector employees. You're stuck with strict, onsite shifts. It's tough to manage personal appointments with the fixed schedules, which impacts work-life balance.
Advice to Management: Think about how to offer even small bits of flexibility, especially for Early Childhood Educator roles. It would help with retention and overall staff morale.
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Common Questions About Goodstart Early Learning

What is the team environment like at Goodstart Early Learning centers for educators?
What kind of benefits does Goodstart Early Learning offer its educators in Australia?
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What kind of employee benefits does Goodstart Early Learning offer its educators, especially for those working full-time at their centers?
What kind of benefits does Goodstart Early Learning offer to its early childhood educators, particularly regarding professional development?
What is the day-to-day working culture like for educators at Goodstart Early Learning centres in Sydney?
What kind of employee benefits does Goodstart Early Learning offer to its educators in Sydney?
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