CEO – Family Day Care Queensland

Family Day Care Queensland are a not for profit, Peak organisation, who have been providing advocacy, resources and support to Queensland Family Day Care services for over 40 years. 

As the Peak, they support Family Day Care services, families and educators by providing information, advice and resources, as well as delivering professional development and training. 

Understanding the early years of a child’s development, from infancy through school age, and recognising how these years shape their future, Family Day Care Queensland has been at the forefront for over 4 decades, ensuring all Queensland children receive the highest quality education and care in nurturing home environments. 

What sets Family Day Care apart is its ability to draw deep connection to local communities and their ability to provide flexible, relationship-based care that truly meets families’ needs. Family Day Care educators deliver vital services across Queensland, reaching families in regional and remote areas and supporting children with diverse needs.  

They collaborate closely with the Queensland Department of Education’s Early Childhood Education and Care division to strengthen and promote child safety standards across all their services. 

Recognising that families are children’s first and most influential educators, the organisations members, service providers, and educators partner with families to create nurturing learning environments that respect culture, relationships, and nature. Family Day Care professionals throughout Queensland bring their qualifications, experience, and dedication to creating genuine, safe spaces where children thrive through play-based learning that mirrors natural family learning. 

Client website

ACNC Profile

As they navigate significant changes in the sector, their commitment to leading, growing and promoting exceptional home-based education and care remains unwavering. Understanding the challenges facing the sector, from workforce recruitment and retention to housing accessibility, they’re actively working with government stakeholders at both state and federal levels to advocate for sustainable solutions that support educators and service providers. 

With broad growth over the last 40 years the Board have been prudent in reflecting on the achievements of the organisation and through an organisational review have identified areas of opportunity to ensure the ongoing sustainability and financial viability of the organisation long term. 

Currently under the leadership of an interim CEO who is effectively addressing priorities and improving performance, the Board have identified the need for an experienced and sector passionate CEO to lead them through a period of change and set the organisation on a successful pathway for their next 40 years. 

Organisation Chart

The core business for Family Day Care Queensland is ensuring all Queensland children receive the highest quality education and care in nurturing home environments and this is achieved through advocacy and their membership. The servicing of members through advocacy, training and education is essential in identifying potential opportunities and revenue streams moving forward. 

And moving forward the organisation is strongly focused on brand awareness and developing market. This is achieved by raising awareness of what the membership offers the wider community. And this community is far reaching, not just metro and suburban Queensland but also rural and remote Queensland.  

With the potential reach into vast communities comes the real opportunity for business development. This has the potential to increase revenue streams for the organisation through community awareness and government lobbying. 

This advocacy forms a large part of the strategic focus for the Board. As with all membership organisations, advocacy for members through considered and deliberate representation by ensuring studies, white papers and policy development provides a sound evidence base to ensure their efforts are impactful and drive positive change. 

Advocacy is an essential component for the success of this role, building awareness of the benefits Family Day Care Queensland offers to the wider Queensland community through lobbying at all levels of government is essential to securing long term funding for the organisation. 

Coupled with strong advocacy is the need to build a solid business foundation with which to build on the past 40 years of experience tailoring this to the needs of the next 40 years. 

This all leads to a clear focus from the Board to ensure financial stability, understand risk and build the business. 

This is a challenging sector with ongoing regulatory changes and changing political landscapes with shifting government policies affecting the sector. 

Over the previous two years the organisation has encountered a budget deficit which the Board has approved significant funding to address. This is ongoing and this new CEO will need to ensure financial stability and develop a plan to overcome this deficit. 

The Board has identified the need for a new strategic plan, which will be developed in collaboration with the new CEO. The focus will be on providing quality child care, ensuring financial stability, understanding risks, and building the business. 

The organisation has three main pillars that include: The Peak Body, Enhanced Family Day Care, and In-Home Care. Through the evolution of the organisation these pillars have grown organically as the need arose and become slightly independent, focused on their own key business outcomes. There is a need for the new CEO to bring these entities closer together to realise efficiencies, competitive advantages and improved communication throughout the organisation. 

In-Home Care has been a solid performer for the organisation generating a significant income stream. With a tender currently out for renewal there is a drive from the Board to further grow the opportunities in this area. 

This is a complex organisation with significant relationship with stakeholders, including members, educators, and government bodies. The new CEO will need to navigate these challenges and work towards a sustainable future for Family Day Care Queensland. 

This CEO needs to bring a commercial business mindset to the role with a good understanding of the early education sector and the operations of a membership organisation. You will also need a solid understanding of operating a business in the NFP space, attuned to reporting requirements, funding acquittals and strong governance. 

A solid decision maker attuned to the needs of the business and understanding of its membership, you can lead with respect, empowering the team that supports you to grow and develop their capabilities. 

With a continuing environment of change, there is a need for constant review of services, policies, procedures and governance. This CEO is happy to lead effective change and has a demonstrated ability in leading change through open communication and engagement. 

An immersive position – you are happy to roll your sleeves up and work hard to understand the mechanics of the organisation. Through this immersion you will be able to contribute to the strategic direction and planned execution of agreed priorities for the organisation from an informed position.  

And as a doer you just get things done! A hands-on role, among other things, contributing to the development of policy and procedures in consultation with key stakeholders is something you enjoy, as well as being the spokesperson and advocate for membership. 

Essential for this role is the need to be visible in the business, regular contact with all stakeholders and teams to support and develop relationships and trust is critical to the success of this position. 

With a solid understanding of membership organisations, you are adept at reviewing data and analysing trends to help inform improvement and opportunities for the business. 

Experienced working with a Board you can and have articulated growth and growth opportunities at this level. You can identify membership opportunities and potential partnerships. 

Happy to develop the big picture you are also skilled at transitioning strategy into implementation and understand the practical steps needed to put this in place. You are practical by nature and approach. 

Firm but fair, you are professionally mature and competent at having robust and respectful conversations, embracing decisions that are made in the best interest of the organisation. 

With a high EQ you understand team dynamics and value culture having promoted positive culture in previous roles. Your people skills are honed to develop strong partnerships and robust, collaborative relationships. Your understanding of the membership ecosystem is at your core. 

An endearing nature, you will cultivate positive relationships developing trust and influence. Bringing an inquisitive nature to the position you actively engage with all stakeholders to see where you can add value and support. 

With an acceptance of uncertainty and complexity as normal you are comfortable with ambiguity and working in an environment of continuous change remaining focused and calm to deliver on your objectives. 

You are well researched and bring a curious mindset to identify opportunities that add value to the organisation. As an evidenced based decision maker your detailed analysis of opportunities equips you well to present at Board level, valuing the level of accountability invested in you. 

The new CEO should have a strong understanding of government funding and regulations, financial acumen, and experience in the sector. The Board is looking for someone who can lead the organisation through change and build trust with stakeholders. 

• Provide effective leadership for the organisation, members and staff 
• Be the organisation’s spokesperson with excellent communications and advocacy skills 
• Financial acumen essential, including cashflow forecasts, budgeting, financial analysis 
• Experience in organisational governance and risk 
• Exposure to collaborating with regional communities and First Nations people 
• Demonstrated understanding of technology and digital capabilities including cyber security 
• Entrepreneurial 
• Strong understanding of advocacy and working with a Board, governments, stakeholders & members 
• Operationally focused, innovative self-starter and solutions driven 
• 5yrs+exp. in a leading General Manager or CEO role. 
• Experience in Community or NFP sector desired 
• Demonstrated knowledge of Early Learning/Childcare or similar regulated field essential 
• Ability to acquire and stay up to date with current Early Learning/Childcare reforms, policy and legislative requirements 
• Ability to drive the organisation forward operationally in systematic & people management 
• Demonstrated experience in risk & compliance, HR & WHS 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with ability to consult, negotiate and liaise with a diverse range of stakeholders 
• High level problem solving, decision making and attention to detail 
• Blue card required 
• Driver’s license required 
• Agreeable to obtaining National Police Check 

Position Description

• Tertiary level qualifications in Business Management  
• Association Management Experience 
• AICD Credentials highly desirable 
• Existing relevant Queensland Government and corporate relationships useful 

• Strong drive & passion aligned to organisational purpose. 
• Highly collaborative 
• Critical thinking 
• Spokesperson 
• Excellent communication & relationships management skills 
• A solution-focused, flexible can-do approach 
• Excellent decision-making capabilities 
• Thrives in a dynamic and fast paced environment. 
• Purposeful with strong attention to detail 

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes: 

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format) 

• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role 

Submit your application quoting reference number MCCECC to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information please contact Mike Conroy on 07 3211 0001. Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day. 

View the live job advertisement and apply here.