Angelicare Australia

Angelicare Australia Childcare Service Support & Facilitation
Supporting setup,transition,purchase & sale of childcare services
Working alongside providers & industry pros

One thing I’ve noticed is that childcare discussions often become very black and white.“Owners are greedy.”“Educators ju...
11/06/2026

One thing I’ve noticed is that childcare discussions often become very black and white.

“Owners are greedy.”

“Educators just want more money.”

“Fees are too expensive.”

The reality is far more complex than that.

Most families now rely on two incomes simply to keep up with the cost of living. Childcare isn’t a luxury for many families it is a necessity.

At the same time, educators absolutely deserve better pay. They are caring for, teaching, nurturing and helping shape the next generation. The work they do matters, and they deserve to be valued accordingly.

But here’s the difficult question:

If educators receive higher wages, where does that money come from?

In most cases, it ultimately flows through the system and impacts the cost of care.

That’s not an argument against paying educators more. In fact, I believe they deserve it.
It’s simply acknowledging the reality that there are no easy solutions.
The challenge isn’t educators versus owners.

The challenge is how we create a system where:
✨ Educators are fairly paid.
✨ Families can still afford care.
✨ Quality remains high.
✨ Good services remain sustainable.

I’ve worked in this sector long enough to know there are wonderful educators, wonderful owners, wonderful managers, and wonderful families.

There are also poor operators and they should be held accountable.

But perhaps the answer isn’t blaming one another.

Perhaps it’s recognising that everyone is feeling the pressure and working together to find solutions that put children at the centre.

Because at the end of the day, that’s why most of us entered this sector in the first place.

Years ago, when the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) was introduced on 2 July 2018, it marked a major shift in how early childho...
23/05/2026

Years ago, when the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) was introduced on 2 July 2018, it marked a major shift in how early childhood education and care was funded in Australia. It replaced the previous system and was designed to streamline support for families, while reshaping how funding flowed through the sector.

At the time, it was clear this change would not be simple. Any major reform in a system as complex and people-centred as early childhood education comes with ripple effects that take time to settle.

In the years that followed, the sector continued to evolve. Requirements for higher-qualified educators increased, lifting professional standards and strengthening outcomes for children. But with this came a natural increase in responsibility, workload and expectations across services that were already operating under pressure.

At the same time, the world outside the sector was also changing. Rising cost-of-living pressures placed strain on families and broader social challenges, including the increase in domestic and family violence where financial stress is often a contributing factor, added further complexity to the environments children, families and educators are navigating every day.

Over time, these separate pressures have not stayed separate. They have accumulated.

Now, early childhood educators across Australia are preparing for planned national industrial action on 15 July 2026, as uncertainty grows around what will happen when the current Worker Retention Payment funding arrangements conclude later this year. This moment is bringing long-standing workforce pressures, wage concerns, retention challenges and funding stability into the spotlight at once.

As reported by The Sector, this is not just about one policy or one decision but about the future sustainability of the workforce and the long-term strength of early childhood education and care across Australia.

What we are seeing now is the result of years of gradual change, increasing expectations and rising pressure across both families and the workforce. It raises a simple but important question: What does it take to ensure this sector is truly supported for the long term, not just for educators but for every child and family who relies on it. What is your thoughts?

The Sector article on ECEC workforce action
Read about it here;
https://thesector.com.au/article/national-walk-off-early-childhood-educators-15-july-2026?utm_content=422242765&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-1894799200827692

The Sector
















Compliance doesn’t always equal impact.You can have the policies.The assessments.The frameworks.The systems.But if leade...
23/05/2026

Compliance doesn’t always equal impact.

You can have the policies.
The assessments.
The frameworks.
The systems.

But if leadership, culture and implementation aren’t aligned, the outcome often stays on paper instead of showing up in everyday practice.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from running an RTO is this:

People don’t sustain what they don’t truly understand, believe in, or feel supported to implement.

That’s why in business and childcare consulting, I don’t just focus on ticking boxes.

I look at:
✨ sustainability in practice
✨ staff capability and confidence
✨ operational pressure and reality
✨ leadership alignment
✨ whether systems are actually being lived, not just documented

Because real quality isn’t built in paperwork alone.
It’s built in what happens consistently when nobody is watching.

What’s one thing you’ve seen in a workplace or business that looked great on paper but wasn’t truly embedded in practice?

I’d love to hear your perspective 👇

Nicole Butler

A lot of people talk about childcare fees, educator pay or even the cost of running a centre but not many people underst...
23/05/2026

A lot of people talk about childcare fees, educator pay or even the cost of running a centre but not many people understand how closely all of these things are actually connected.

Under the Children’s Services Award (Fair Work Commission), educator pay is set at minimum base rates depending on qualification and role. These are the current approximate hourly minimums:

• Certificate III / entry-level Educators: around $26 – $29 per hour
• Diploma Educators / Qualified Educators: around $29 – $33 per hour
• Room Leaders / higher responsibility roles: around $33 – $35+ per hour
• Early Childhood Teachers / leadership roles: around $36 – $42 per hour

(Source: Fair Work Commission – Children’s Services Award MA000120 https://awards.fairwork.gov.au/MA000120.html)

It’s important to remember these are minimum award rates, not the full picture of what is paid across the sector.

Many centres choose to pay above award rates depending on experience, qualifications, performance and leadership responsibilities. Some services also invest heavily in their teams through professional development, flexible arrangements, wellbeing initiatives and other workplace supports to help retain staff.

Staffing is the largest ongoing cost in a childcare centre. Because of strict educator-to-child ratios, staffing cannot be reduced without impacting compliance or capacity, which means wages and staffing structures are a fixed and significant part of the business model.

So when people talk about childcare fees or why centres feel financially tight, it’s important to understand:
• wages are regulated at a minimum level
• many services pay above award to attract and retain staff
• staffing ratios are legally required
• and overall operating costs continue to rise

At the same time, educators carry huge responsibility every day supporting children’s safety, learning, emotional wellbeing and development during the most important early years.

I’ve seen both sides of this sector, passionate educators and dedicated operators doing their best to balance quality, compliance and sustainability.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding the full picture behind early childhood education , both human and financial.

If we want strong outcomes for children and families, we need to understand and value the people and systems that make it all work.

The more awareness there is, the more informed change can happen.

✨ Questions to Ask Before Buying a Childcare Centre ✨Buying a childcare centre can be exciting but asking the right ques...
15/05/2026

✨ Questions to Ask Before Buying a Childcare Centre ✨

Buying a childcare centre can be exciting but asking the right questions first can save you stress, money and unexpected surprises later.

Here are a few important questions to ask:

✔️ What is the current occupancy rate?
✔️ Are there any compliance issues or upcoming regulatory concerns?
✔️ What are the staffing arrangements and turnover like?
✔️ Is the lease secure and how many years remain?
✔️ What are the centre’s financials actually showing?
✔️ What reputation does the service have within the community?
✔️ Are there opportunities for growth and expansion?
✔️ What systems and processes are already in place?

Sometimes a centre may look successful on the outside but the real story is in the details.

Doing proper due diligence is one of the most important parts of purchasing a childcare business 💜

Have you ever thought about owning a childcare centre one day?

Quick update for tonight’s session 💜If you’ve been thinking about joining the session tonight, this is your reminder tha...
04/05/2026

Quick update for tonight’s session 💜

If you’ve been thinking about joining the session tonight, this is your reminder that it starts soon and tickets are closing soon.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-start-or-buy-a-childcare-centre-with-clarity-before-you-risk-1000s-tickets-1987594149606

This session is for anyone who has been thinking about starting a childcare business but feels unsure about where to begin or what the process actually looks like.

We’ll be breaking it down simply so you walk away with clarity on your next step ✨

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, this is your sign to move from “thinking about it” into action 💜

Do you need a higher occupancy? Message me and let’s get more families through your doors.Book in a clarity session here...
02/05/2026

Do you need a higher occupancy? Message me and let’s get more families through your doors.
Book in a clarity session here:

https://buy.stripe.com/14AfZa5vObaB5gEgYKdfG02

Once booked, I’ll send through my calendar for you to choose a time that suits you.

I got asked this today on a clarity call 🤩‘What about provider approval numbers?’I hear it all the time.People get told ...
29/04/2026

I got asked this today on a clarity call 🤩
‘What about provider approval numbers?’

I hear it all the time.

People get told they need “it” but they don’t know what’s expected of them, it can feel overwhelming and that uncertainty can hold people back from even starting.

But here’s the truth ✨ provider approval numbers aren’t the problem! Not knowing how to prepare for the test and process is.

That’s exactly what I help you with.

I help you move from confusion to clarity
so you can step forward with confidence, knowing you’re doing it right.

Because clarity creates confidence and confidence is where your sparkle really starts to shine ✨

If this is something you’ve been wondering about too, message me ‘APPROVAL’ and let’s get you prepared.

Address

15 Barron Parade
Joondalup, WA
6027

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+61863737780

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