Course info

Management and leadership are companions in the delivery of high-quality education and care service provision. This program has been designed to strengthen the management capability of service managers—helping them to build their skills, knowledge and confidence to meet their day-to-day responsibilities in whatever service or organisation type they work in. The courses in the ECA Management Fundamentals Program will build on the strengths that education and care professionals bring to their management role and ensure they are prepared to take on other roles across the scope of the education and care sector. The diversity of settings and roles has brought about different levels of management responsibility and obligations to those in governance roles, owners, staff, communities and the sector.

In the early childhood sector, particularly in standalone services, people often find themselves stepping into management roles with little or no management training. It can be daunting and stressful, particularly for those who do not have a highly skilled and supportive governing body. 

Recent research into new managers’ perceptions of their own preparedness to manage/lead found that a large percentage of them did not feel well prepared in terms of managing/leading the centre as an organisation, but felt well prepared to manage and lead elements related to pedagogy. Common challenges experienced by new managers were identified in the organisational leadership domain. Managing staff was ranked as the number-one challenge by managers three times more than any other aspect. In addition, 44% of managers surveyed indicated they would pursue a management/leadership qualification and 41% said perhaps they would.

Despite the apparent interest in upskilling, there is a lack of good quality, sector-specific management training for first-time managers. The ECA Management Fundamentals Program has been designed to prepare managers in foundational aspects of governance and leadership, specifically in the education and care context.

By completing this Program, participants will be able to apply the following learning outcomes: