Everything Early Childhood

Hosted by Leeza Browne

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138

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Everything Early Childhood Podcast, designed for Approved Providers, Nominated Supervisors and other child care business leaders. This fun, light-hearted and very serious podcast features weekly episodes on strategy, advice and conversations with fascinating and inspiring people from across our sector. Join the journey and have access to the tools and inspiration you need to create high performing child care businesses.

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60 recent

June 10, 202634 min

The belonging conversation we're not actually having - Part 4

🎙️ Everything Early Childhood Podcast The Belonging Conversation We're Not Actually Having ### Why Team Building Isn't the Same as Building Community Part 4 of our series: **The Conversations We're All Having... But Not Properly Unpacking.** --- How do we bring our teams together? How do we get everyone on the same page? How do we create a shared vision? How do we build a culture people actually want to be part of? These are some of the biggest questions I'm hearing from educators, leaders, directors and owners right now. But what if this isn't actually a team-building conversation? What if it's a belonging conversation? In this episode, I explore what happens to connection, trust and community when survival mode becomes the culture of a profession. We unpack: ✨ Why belonging might be the thing we're really searching for ✨ The difference between a team and a community ✨ What survival mode does to relationships ✨ Why support means something different to everyone ✨ The hidden reason team-building activities often don't work ✨ Psychological safety and why "nice to your face" doesn't always mean safe ✨ The difference between belonging and fitting in ✨ Healthy conflict, leadership and shared vision ✨ Why I think many of us might be grieving the loss of community ✨ The question every leader should be asking about their culture right now This isn't an episode about blame. It's not about leaders versus educators. It's not about who's right and who's wrong. It's about humans. Connection. Belonging. Community. And what it means to create places where people genuinely want to be. Because maybe the answer isn't getting people to show up for work. Maybe it's creating places people genuinely want to belong. 💗 ### Reflection Questions • What are people currently bonding over in your service? • What is the thing currently holding your team together? • When educators ask for support, do you know what support actually means to them? • Do people feel safe giving honest feedback in your service? • Are you building a team, or are you building a community? • What would it look like for people to genuinely belong here? --- 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone in early childhood who needs to hear this conversation. Because these are the conversations we're all having... Let's talk about them. --- 💛 Connect with Leeza Browne Founder & CEO, Platinum Education Group Host of the Everything Early Childhood Podcast "People before paperwork. Relationships before systems. Belonging before performance."

May 28, 202633 min

The question that started it all: Why dont people want to show up to work anymore? - Part 3

EPISODE TITLE The Conversation That Started It All: Why Don’t People Want to Show Up to Work Anymore? EPISODE SHOW NOTES This week’s episode of the Everything Early Childhood Podcast is unlike any episode I’ve recorded before. No polished script. No “5 tips.” No perfectly packaged answers. Just me, a whiteboard and one question I genuinely cannot stop thinking about: Why don’t people want to show up to work anymore? And the deeper I unpacked it, the more I realised this conversation is about so much more than staffing. This episode is part of the “Conversations We Need to Start Having” series — a series created to explore the deeper tensions, shifts and uncomfortable conversations sitting underneath the surface of our profession right now. Because this isn’t about blame. It’s not about pointing fingers at educators, leaders, owners or teams. It’s about curiosity. Understanding. Reflection. And trying to make sense of the complexity so many people are currently feeling. In this episode, I unpack: * burnout and emotional exhaustion * disconnection from purpose and meaning * leadership pressure and emotional load * changing family dynamics * increasing expectations within the profession * support systems and workplace culture * why surface-level solutions often aren’t enough * the difference between burnout and disconnection * what happens when people lose connection to mission, identity and belonging * why these conversations matter if we genuinely want meaningful change This episode is raw, reflective and deeply human. It’s less of a polished podcast episode and more of an invitation into my thought process as I try to understand the patterns, shifts and deeper realities our profession is currently navigating. And honestly… I’d love to hear your thoughts too. What resonated with you? What patterns are you noticing? And what conversations do you think we need to start having more honestly? As always… every moment counts.

May 21, 202615 min

When Survival Mode Becomes Team Culture - Part 2

When Survival Mode Becomes Team Culture What happens when “hard” stops being a season… and becomes the identity of the profession? In this deeply honest and reflective episode, Leeza explores the emotional weight many educators, leaders and owners are carrying right now — and the uncomfortable truth that exhaustion has become normalised in early childhood. This is not an episode about pretending everything is fine. And it’s not another “just stay positive” conversation. This is a real discussion about burnout, survival mode, compliance pressure, emotional overload, and the growing disconnect between what early childhood currently feels like… and what it was always meant to feel like. Leeza unpacks: Why so many educators and leaders feel emotionally exhausted How burnout can quietly become part of team culture The difference between surviving and truly leading Why people are grieving the profession they thought they were entering The hidden impact of constant compliance pressure Why “wellbeing” is much deeper than cupcakes and self-care walls The danger of bonding only through stress and overwhelm What children feel when adults are operating in survival mode How to rebuild hope, purpose and connection in small, realistic ways Throughout the episode, Leeza shares powerful reflections from the Directors Academy, explores multiple perspectives across the sector, and asks the big question: Are we willing to change… or have we become comfortable talking about how hard it is? This episode is for: Educators feeling emotionally flat or overwhelmed Directors carrying the weight of everyone around them Owners trying to balance sustainability and quality Teams wanting to reconnect with purpose Anyone who still believes early childhood should feel meaningful, connected and human Because maybe the answer isn’t pretending it isn’t hard. Maybe the answer is refusing to let hard become all that it is. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. ✨ Reflection questions included at the end of the episode. #EverythingEarlyChildhood #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECELeadership #DirectorLife #EducatorWellbeing #ChildcareLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #EarlyLearning #Burnout #TeamCulture #WellbeingInECE #EveryMomentCounts

May 13, 202629 min

The Early Childhood reset everyone's talking about - Part 1

Something has shifted in early childhood… and everyone can feel it. In this deeply honest and confronting episode, Leeza Browne unpacks the growing exhaustion, pressure and uncertainty being felt across the early childhood profession right now. From workforce shortages, rising operational costs and child safety reform, to emotionally overwhelmed teams, shifting family expectations and the increasing weight of compliance… this episode explores the question so many leaders are quietly asking behind closed doors: Is long day care dying… or are we being forced to rethink everything? But this conversation goes far beyond fear or negativity. This is a real and nuanced discussion about: The emotional toll current reforms are having on leaders and educators Whether increasing administrative burden is actually improving outcomes for children The growing disconnect between policy expectations and operational reality Why many leaders no longer feel confident, despite trying incredibly hard The loss of joy, presence and connection in the profession Why “busy” and “exceptional” are not the same thing The reset currently happening across early childhood Why only the most intentional, values-led and trusted services will truly thrive moving forward Leeza also explores the uncomfortable but important truth that while early childhood education itself is absolutely not dying, the season of “good enough” may be. This episode is for the exhausted directors, educators, owners and leaders carrying the emotional weight of a profession they care deeply about. If you’ve been quietly wondering: “Can we keep doing this?” or “Why does everything feel so heavy right now?” …this conversation is for you. Because maybe this isn’t the death of early childhood. Maybe it’s the beginning of rebuilding it stronger. 🎧 Connect with Platinum Education Group: Platinum Education Group 🎙️ Follow Everything Early Childhood for more conversations supporting owners, directors and educators across Australia.

May 6, 202649 min

Culture is more than a checklist with Jessica Staines

Culture Is More Than a Checklist with Jessica Staines In this week’s episode of the Everything Early Childhood Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Jessica Staines from Koori Curriculum for a deeply important conversation about what it really means to embed Aboriginal perspectives meaningfully in early childhood. This isn’t a conversation about ticking boxes, adding a few cultural experiences during NAIDOC Week, or “getting it perfect.” It’s a conversation about relationships, curiosity, identity, belonging, and moving beyond tokenistic practice to create environments where culture is genuinely lived, reflected, respected, and celebrated every single day. Together, we unpack: Why many educators feel nervous or unsure about where to begin The fear of “getting it wrong” and how that creates paralysis in practice The difference between performing culture vs embedding it meaningfully How culture extends far beyond ethnicity and exists within our communities, environments, stories, values, interests and everyday life The powerful concept of “windows and mirrors” in early childhood environments Why slowing pedagogy down creates deeper and more meaningful learning How educators can start their journey with confidence, curiosity and humility The role of relationships, mentoring and community in meaningful cultural learning Why anti-bias approaches matter more than ever How we can create environments where every child, family and educator feels seen, valued and reflected Jess shares practical examples, powerful reflections, and honest insights from over 20 years of experience supporting educators to move beyond surface-level inclusion and into truly embedded practice. This episode is reflective, practical, honest, and incredibly grounding for any educator or leader wanting to create more culturally responsive environments without fear, overwhelm or perfectionism. Because culture is not a checklist. It’s a way of being. About Jessica Staines Jessica Staines is a Wiradjuri woman, early childhood teacher, and the founder of Koori Curriculum. Jess is passionate about supporting educators to embed Aboriginal perspectives authentically within early childhood environments through mentoring, professional development, resources and community connection. You can connect with Jess here: Website: https://kooricurriculum.com Instagram: @kooricurriculum Facebook: Koori Curriculum Loved this episode? If this conversation resonated with you, please share it with your team, community or another educator who needs to hear it. And if you haven’t already, make sure you subscribe to the Everything Early Childhood Podcast so you never miss an episode. Keep making every moment count

April 17, 202651 min

Your questions Answered - Q&A April 2026

PODCAST SHOW NOTES Q&A: You Don’t Need More Time… You Need a Different Way of Leading This month’s Q&A episode is built completely from your questions — real challenges coming from the floor, your teams, and your leadership right now. Firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a question. I know how busy you are, and these episodes are designed to support you in real time — not just in theory, but in what you’re actually navigating every day. What We Covered In this episode, we unpack: The growing pressure around planning and documentation — and whether it’s actually serving a purpose anymore How to lead as an Educational Leader when you’re constantly on the floor Mentoring your team in real time when you feel like you don’t have capacity Making compliance and QIP feel simple, clear, and connected Occupancy — why some services are thriving and others are starting to feel the pressure The Big Insight While these questions look different on the surface… they’re not. They all point to one core challenge: 👉 How do I lead when I don’t feel like I have the time, space, or capacity to lead? This episode unpacks the patterns behind the overwhelm — and why it’s not about doing more, but leading differently. Key Takeaways Planning should support understanding — not just prove compliance You can’t deeply lead pedagogy without space to think Mentoring doesn’t require more time — it requires intention in the moment Compliance feels overwhelming when systems are unclear or scattered Occupancy isn’t just a marketing issue — it’s a leadership and alignment issue Occupancy Framework (Simplified) Occupancy doesn’t sit in one area — it flows across three key stages: Marketing — How clearly you communicate what makes your service unique Sales — The experience families have when they first interact with you Experience — Whether your service delivers on what was promised And underpinning all of it? 👉 Your philosophy — your vision, mission, and values.  A Question to Reflect On At some point, every leader needs to ask: Am I ready to actually lead this service… or am I more comfortable staying in the fire? Final Thought You don’t need more time. You need a different way of leading. Want Support With This? This is exactly the work we do inside the Directors Academy — helping leaders step out of the day-to-day overwhelm and into clear, confident leadership with structure and support around them. If this episode resonated with you, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out on your own either. Submit Your Question This is part of our monthly Q&A series, and we’d love to hear from you. We share question prompts via email and inside the Everything Early Childhood Facebook group — or you can reach out anytime. Next Episode We’re unpacking one of the biggest questions facing our sector right now: 👉 Is long day care dying? We’ll explore what’s actually changing, what it means for you, and where the opportunities are moving forward. Stay Connected If this episode resonated, share it with someone in your team or another leader who needs to hear it. Because every moment counts — and leadership matters more than ever right now.

April 8, 202611 min

Director File: Holding It All Together

“I feel like I’m holding everything together… and I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing it.”   In this month’s Director File, Leeza shares a powerful and deeply relatable letter from a director who is caught in the cycle of supporting everyone else… while slowly burning out themselves.   This episode explores:   • The blurred lines between connection and over-supporting your team • The emotional load of being “the one everyone goes to” • Why creating a safe culture can sometimes go too far • The hidden leadership patterns that create dependency • The shift from rescuing → leading   This is a raw and honest conversation that so many leaders will resonate with.   💛 If you’ve ever felt like you are carrying everything… this episode is for you.   👉 Share this with another director who needs to hear: “It’s not just you.”

April 1, 20268 min

The Director’s Day: The Work No One Sees

What does a Centre Director actually do all day?   This episode answers that question… honestly.   In this powerful and deeply relatable episode, Leeza walks you through the real, unfiltered reality of a director’s day, from the 5am phone calls, to compliance pressures, to emotional leadership, to the invisible load that is carried every single day.   This episode is for:   • Directors who need to feel seen, validated, and proud • Educators who want to better understand the role • Families who may not realise the responsibility behind the scenes Inside this episode, you’ll hear: • The true start and end of a director’s day • The balance between leadership, compliance, and care • The invisible mental and emotional load directors carry • Why a “smooth day” is actually a sign of strong leadership • A powerful reframe on what it means to be a director   This episode is one to share.   💛 If you’ve ever wondered what your director really does… or you are the director, this is for you.   👉 Send this to your team, your families, or anyone who needs to understand the reality of this role.

March 25, 202612 min

Are You Actually Ready to Solve It… Or Do You Want to Stay in the Fire?

You say you’re overwhelmed. You say you’re burnt out. You say you can’t keep going like this…   But when the opportunity comes to do something different… You stay in the fire.   In this bold and honest solo episode, Leeza challenges one of the biggest patterns she is seeing across early childhood leadership right now, directors and owners who are stuck in reactive cycles, constantly putting out fires, even when they are given the tools to step out of them.   This episode dives into:   • Why leaders stay in reactive mode (even when they know better) • The hidden comfort of chaos and “feeling productive” • The difference between managing problems vs solving them • A powerful real-life client story (Katie) and what changed everything • Why leadership requires a different version of you   This is not a comfortable episode. But it is a necessary one.   If you’re ready to stop surviving your role and start leading forward… this one is for you.   💛 Want support to step out of the fire and into leadership? The Directors Academy mid-year intake is opening soon. Keep an eye out for more details.   🎧 Don’t forget to share this episode with another leader who needs to hear it.

March 18, 202622 min

Director file: I refuse to work with her

Director Files 🎙 Alright… this month’s Director File had me laughing out loud when I read it. Not because it’s funny, but because I know so many directors dealing with this right now. A director wrote in about something she’s calling educator cancel culture. An educator walked into the office and said: “I refuse to work with her.” When the director suggested they talk through the issue, the response was: “Well maybe I should just resign then.” Over a conversation about pack-up. This one opens up a really interesting leadership discussion about: • conflict in teams • resignation threats • the difference between discomfort and psychological safety • and the role of a director when two adults don’t want to work together I unpack the whole situation in today’s Director Files episode.