Become a Woodlander!

Woodlands Childcare & Education is entering an exciting new chapter. As we continue to grow and transform our campuses, we're looking for an experienced and passionate Practice, Quality & Safeguarding Manager to help shape high-quality educational practice across our growing network.

This is a unique opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation where you can make your mark, influence practice and improve outcomes for children at scale.

About the Role

As the Practice, Quality & Safeguarding Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across educational practice, quality improvement and child safety, working alongside our Area Managers and campus leadership teams to strengthen consistency and quality across Woodlands. You'll be a trusted partner to our Campus Directors and educational leaders, supporting them to build strong teams, embed best practice and create environments where children can thrive.

This role will be instrumental in driving our commitment to being a Child Safe organisation and ensuring our practice reflects the highest standards of education, care and safeguarding.

What You'll Do

Lead Practice Excellence

- Provide leadership and guidance on educational practice across the Woodlands network.
- Support the consistent implementation of the EYLF and contemporary early childhood practice.
- Coach and mentor educational leaders and campus teams to strengthen intentional teaching and learning outcomes.
- Promote reflective practice, professional inquiry and continuous improvement.
- Identify opportunities to share best practice and build capability across campuses.

Drive Quality Improvement

- Lead and support quality improvement initiatives across the network.
- Partner with campus leaders to strengthen practice against the National Quality Standard.
- Support campuses to prepare for Assessment and Rating and respond effectively to areas for improvement.
- Use observations, data, feedback and practice reviews to identify opportunities to lift quality.




- Develop and implement practical strategies that create measurable improvements in outcomes for children.

Champion Safeguarding & Child Safety

- Lead the ongoing development and embedding of Woodlands' child safety and safeguarding culture.
- Support leaders and educators to understand and meet their child safety responsibilities.
- Ensure safeguarding principles are embedded into everyday practice, policies and decision-making.
- Identify emerging risks and work with leaders to implement appropriate strategies and controls.
- Support ongoing education and capability building around child safety and mandatory reporting.

Partner With Our Leaders

- Work closely with Area Managers, Campus Directors, Educational Leaders and Centre Managers to align operational and educational priorities.
- Provide constructive feedback, coaching and support to leaders to build their confidence and capability.
- Facilitate professional development, workshops and network-wide initiatives.
- Build strong relationships across the organisation and create a culture of collaboration and shared accountability.

About You

We're looking for an experienced early childhood professional who combines strong educational practice with strategic thinking, leadership and a genuine commitment to child safety.

You'll bring

- A Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or an ACECQA-assessed equivalent is preferred, with consideration also given to experienced Diploma-qualified candidates
- Significant experience in early childhood education, educational leadership or quality improvement.
- Solid knowledge of the EYLF, NQS and Victorian early childhood regulatory requirements.




- Experience supporting services through quality improvement and Assessment and Rating.
- A strong understanding of child safety and safeguarding responsibilities.
- Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring and developing educators and leaders.
- The ability to influence and build relationships across a multi-site organisation.
- Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
- A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and strengthening the capability of the people around you.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who cares deeply about quality, people and children, and who is excited by the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of Woodlands.

Why Woodlands?

At Woodlands, we're not just maintaining the status quo. We're building something better. We're transforming our campuses, investing in our people and creating a culture where great educators and leaders can do their best work.

You'll have the opportunity to:

- Make a genuine impact across a growing network of campuses.
- Work alongside passionate and committed leaders.
- Influence educational practice at a network level.
- Support the development of the next generation of early childhood leaders.
- Be part of an organisation with a explicit mission: to improve the lives of 1,000,000 children by 2030.
- Grow with a business that is entering an exciting period of transformation and expansion.

Become a Woodlander

If you're ready to use your expertise to lift practice, strengthen quality and champion child safety across a growing early childhood organisation, we'd love to hear from you. Join Woodlands and make your mark.

At Woodlands, we are committed to child safety. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are dedicated to creating environments where children are safe, supported, and empowered. Child safety and wellbeing are embedded into our culture, practices, recruitment, and decision-making. All applicants are subject to child safety screening, reference checks, and pre-employment checks in line with legislative requirements.

📌 Practice, Quality & Safeguarding Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Woodlands Long Day Care & Kindergarten
📍 Melbourne