Goodstart is for early learning

    From crisis to opportunity.

    ABC Learning went into voluntary liquidation in 2008 and was bought by GoodStart Childcare in December 2009. The new owners are made up of The Benevolent Society, Mission Australia, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Social Ventures Australia.
     
    With new owners, a new CEO and executive team the GoodStart story will build and grow as we deliver on our plans to have a measurable positive effect on the lives of Australia’s children.
     
    Goodstart has come a long way - largely due to the passion and commitment of our Centre Managers and staff around Australia. But our vision goes way beyond a new brand. With the support of a great new Board and CEO, we have a wonderful chance to build on the achievements of the early learning movement.

    Our name focuses us on the importance of the first five years and communicates that we are moving beyond childcare into early learning. Much more than just a new logo and signage, we’re evolving and extending who we are and what we do.
     
    Ongoing confusion and criticism connected with the ABC Learning financial collapse was holding us back. Our staff, families and partners all wanted to refocus, let go of the past and move on.
     
    We needed to redefine ourselves in order to re-engage with each of these groups.

    Agreement to change was unanimous: our renaming goes to the heart of everything we do.

    We’re for children, not for profit

    One of Goodstart’s key points of difference is that any surplus we produce is reinvested in early learning initiatives. Goodstart is driven by three guiding principles:
    1. Children are central to everything we do
    2. Families are our primary partner
    3. Being a valued part of each unique community.

    Children are born ready to learn

    The early years of life are critical to the development of intelligence, personality and social behaviour. 

    Goodstart was created to help Australia’s children have the best possible start in life. Providing Australian families with a wonderful childcare service gives us the chance to do so much more. That’s why we are creating pathways to early learning and beyond with our centres and staff.

    Children who start ahead stay ahead

    Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Gaps between vulnerable and other children start as early as age two and those gaps are hard to close. Children who start behind tend to stay behind. However, by intervening early however, we can minimise risks and strengthen the protective factors. The earlier the intervention, the higher the effectiveness and the lower the cost.
     
    Our Vision is for Australia’s children to have the best possible start in life. We’ll achieve this by living our Mission, which is to provide high-quality, accessible, affordable, community-connected early learning in our centres, as well as partner and openly collaborate with the sector to drive change for the benefit of all children.