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ECEC Directors Australia, Governance, HR and Safety Forum

Stories from 2026

Photos, videos and words from the 2026 sessions at St George Sailing Club, Sans Souci. People from 64 NSW services came to the 2026 Forum.

  • A presenter speaking to directors seated at round tables in the light-filled room at the 2026 Forum
  • Three directors sharing a table by the windows, with the water behind them, at the 2026 Forum
  • Two directors greeting each other with a hug as the day begins at the 2026 Forum
  • A director filling in a worksheet at a table while a colleague looks on at the 2026 Forum
  • Directors chatting on the sunny deck outside the venue during a break at the 2026 Forum
  • The facilitator presenting with a microphone beside flip charts while directors follow along at the 2026 Forum
  • Directors reading the workshop booklet at their table at the 2026 Forum
  • A close-up of a director holding a page from the resource pack at the 2026 Forum
  • The overwater function room set with round tables and a screen before directors arrive
  • Directors working in small groups at the 2026 Forum, standing around a table by the windows
  • Directors collecting barista coffee at the venue cafe counter during a break at the 2026 Forum
  • Directors working through a scenario together at a table at the 2026 Forum
  • Directors mingling on the covered deck with views across the bay at lunch at the 2026 Forum
  • The facilitator speaking to the room in front of the slides at the 2026 Forum
  • Directors listening closely to a session at the 2026 Forum
  • A table of directors in discussion during an activity at the 2026 Forum
  • Four directors listening closely at a round table by the tall windows, coffees and notes in front of them
  • A recruitment activity slide on the screen while directors work through it at their tables
  • The facilitator speaking with a microphone beside a flip chart, seen between two directors
  • Three directors deep in conversation at a high table by the windows, with the bay softly behind
  • Four directors in conversation at a table by the windows, with the water behind
  • Directors at their tables with notebooks and coffee, listening in the daylight by the glass
  • Three directors talking through a scenario at a round table with drink bottles and notes
  • The welcome slide on screen as the day opens in the room built over the water
  • Directors on their feet for a stand and swap activity under the striking timber ceiling
  • The facilitator presenting the welcome slide to a full room of directors at round tables
  • Three directors listening at a table with coffees and notes, the water behind the glass
  • A presenter in a green jumper listening from a table, with directors seated behind
  • Timber stools at the bar tables by the window, with the green foreshore beyond the glass
  • Directors chatting at morning tea in the bar area, with the bay through the windows
30 photos from three 2026 sessions: , and .

In their own words

“16 years in our community-based service, never needed this real guidance or support before until now and you don't realise you need it until you need it.”

CatherineAnzac Village Pre School
  • HayleeJesmond Community Pre-School

    “The detail that the emails come back through, it's really step by step and written in basic English that we can understand as Directors. We're very time poor so it's really easy to follow.”

  • CathOld Bar Community Pre School

    “Often with HR you feel like you're a number but in this situation we feel like we're part of a team. We know we'll get a response when we need it and it will be the right response.”

  • JoannaCuddle Pie Pre School & Day Care Centre

    “In our industry compliance and regulations and the law are really big things that we just can't second-guess on and I think having someone to support you in those areas is really important.”

  • RobynBoolaroo-Speers Point Community Kindergarten

    “We were trained as early childhood workers, educators, we're not trained in HR, you'd have to go do so many years of courses, and Employment Compass has now come in and taken that load off us.”

  • JuliaWerris Creek & District Pre-School

    “To have somebody with the correct information, the qualifications and also the expertise has been money well spent for us.”

  • Lynne & KristinWangi Peter Pan Kindergarten

    “It's overwhelming, you need support and Kristian's been really supportive of us and takes the stress out of it.”

  • CallySouth West Rocks Pre School

    “Even though I've been doing this job for a really long time, I really have never been confident in knowing what I'm doing with regards to HR. And now I feel confident because I have the backup, I'll have someone to ask.”

  • DebbieLower Macleay Pre-School

    “As an early childhood director, often we do not understand the complexities of HR and now we are getting the guidance that we've needed for a very long time and it's filled a void that we needed filling.”

  • LeanneMurrin Bridge Preschool

    “You need the support of somebody that is confident in what they're telling you, so you're confident in your job.”

  • SharnieMolong District Pre School

    “Having Kristian along my side has supported me with all my issues and new contracts, and he's very professional and he's always there on the phone when I need him.”

  • LisaWarren Pre School Kindergarten

    “Reach out for help. You don't have to do it alone. There's lots, lots of bases to navigate and help is amazing. Kristian is personable, relatable. He really listens to the problem and comes up with solutions that are context-based.”

  • AmandaWellington Community Children's Centre

    “Kristian from Employment Compass has been great. He's always on the phone, always happy to have a chat.”

Watch all 13 on the Employment Compass YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)

From the May sessions

Filmed on and , between sessions. Here are their words and a photo.

  • “So, so valuable. It's real world stuff. We can already link it to so many things we're doing and so many questions we had.”

    HannahParklands Community Preschool

  • “So first five minutes had me hooked and yeah, so much information, like just all the little things that you like have kind of gone by the wayside with all the new changes.”

    Donna & TashTocumwal Preschool and Cooks Hill Preschool

  • “I think it's so important for us to have up-to-date industry-specific advice. And I think there's a real gap for that at the moment. So it's great to ask complex questions and actually be able to receive an answer.”

    Janette & SarahStuarts Point Preschool and Valla Community Preschool

  • “It's been really informative. There's so much new information around awards and HR and payroll and just to be able to go through step by step and make sure we're doing the right thing by everybody.”

    TraceyWollongbar Community Preschool

  • “So having someone that you can call on and ask those questions to before you deal with it and having just some background information on the issues, it helps you a lot in solving those problems.”

    PiaKinburra Preschool

  • “Oh, it's brilliant. It's like lots of things to think about and I'm so glad.”

    LouisaMangrove Mountain Children's Centre

  • “And so far, I've found it very informative, very work-specific as to what's happening in our field.”

    Robyn & LouiseDunedoo Preschool Kindergarten and Narromine Preschool

  • “It's just great to come together with other directors and services to understand that we aren't alone in what we are doing and that the issues are everywhere and there is support there for us to access.”

    CorieCoolamon Preschool

  • “Because I thought that there'd be lots of learning and it's a great opportunity to network with other directors from around New South Wales.”

    EllanaLeeton Preschool

  • “Just to catch up with everybody and have some face-to-face training because it's really so scarce these days and, yeah, it's just really lovely to get out of the centres and, you know, meet everyone in a different light.”

    ShaunyBoorowa Early Education Centre

  • “So far for me, it's just been all the contracts and what I need to be compliant, I guess, with Fair Work.”

    LeanneAriah Park Preschool

  • “Fantastic location, great company, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the information that we get today.”

    HeatherKindy Lane Griffith Preschool

  • “I am looking forward to the difficult conversations and the performance management side of things today. I find myself probably not doing that as well as what I probably should.”

    KerynCootamundra Preschool

Four Mondays in 2027

$500 + GST ($550 total) per person

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