Has anyone ever said to you, “You’d make a great leader”? Maybe it sparked a flicker of excitement, quickly followed by a wave of uncertainty. That mix of “maybe I could” and “what if I can’t?” is a common experience for emerging leaders in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Whether you’ve recently stepped into a leadership role or are considering your next career move, one thing is certain: someone already sees your potential.
You might be the educator who encourages others, uplifts the team, or quietly influences positive change. Whether or not you’ve recognised it yet, these are the marks of a leader.
Leadership in the ECEC sector is both rewarding and complex. It can feel exhilarating one moment and overwhelming the next.
That’s why we created the Emerging Leaders Online Development Series. A self-paced course designed to help you navigate the challenges, celebrate the wins and grow into the leader you were meant to be.
Training that meets you where you are
This interactive, self-paced series is built for educators at all levels of their leadership journey.
Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role, preparing for career progression or looking to refresh your skills, this course provides the tools, confidence, and clarity you need to thrive.
Spanning four in-depth modules and 13 focused sessions, the course offers a practical, sector-specific approach to leadership that balances theory, self-reflection and real-world application.
With a range of practical resources to support your learning, you’ll have access to downloadable templates, reflection tools, planning documents and conversation guides, all designed to be printed, completed, or adapted to suit your own leadership style and service context.
These resources are embedded throughout the course to help you apply your learning in real time, spark meaningful reflection and support your ongoing professional growth both individually and as part of a team.
Whether you’re setting goals, leading discussions, or developing policies, you’ll find tools that are ready to use and relevant to your everyday practice.
Course overview
Module 1: Navigating the Sector and Service as a Leader
Explore the broader ECEC landscape and your role within it. You’ll reflect on service philosophy, understand your responsibilities under the National Quality Framework (NQF), and learn how to drive continuous improvement through intentional goal setting.
Module 2: Inspiring Leadership – Discovering Your Leadership Style
Uncover the leader within. This module helps you explore leadership models and emotional intelligence, and gain clarity on your unique leadership style.
Module 3: Knowing and Supporting Your Team
Dive into the heart of team culture. Learn how to build strong communication, give meaningful feedback, handle difficult conversations and create positive workplace environments that bring out the best in everyone.
Module 4: Operations and Safeguarding the Service
Leadership isn’t just about people, it’s also about process.
This module explores how strong operational systems and leadership structures keep your service safe, sustainable and resilient.
In the final session, you’ll explore how leaders contribute to a culture of safety and risk awareness.
From managing compliance to responding to critical incidents, you’ll learn how to embed a proactive approach to safeguarding that protects children, supports staff and ensures your service is prepared — even in times of crisis.
Leading with purpose
Each module is aligned to the National Quality Standard (NQS), with a strong focus on Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership, as well as links to Quality Area 4: Staffing Arrangements and Quality Area 6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities.
This course isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about building a leadership mindset. One that is resilient, reflective, and ready to guide your service through growth, change and continuous improvement.
Whether you’re just beginning or looking to evolve your leadership practice, the Emerging Leaders Online Development Series will empower you to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
