Management Services

Our holistic management services cover all aspects of running a centre, from staff training and professional development, through to roster reviews and cost analysis, ensuring that your business is operating within industry standards.

Our aim is to partner with Approved Providers and Nominated Supervisors to raise the benchmark for early childhood services in Australia.

Enrolments

Our Enrolment Specialists a team of passionate and customer focussed individuals, with a majority having qualifications and hands-on experience in early childhood education. Having this unique background provides an extra level of expertise and knowledge when speaking to potential new families and converting them to enrolments.

Our dedicated team cover all aspects of the enrolment process, from initial enquiry and booking centre tours, right through to managing waitlists, following up enrolment documents and booking in start dates for new families. This team also includes Family Liaison Officers who work with our centres and new families to successfully enrol children with special requirements (be it a preference, a cultural view or a medical condition), that requires support and risk minimisation.

This centralised approach to enrolments ensures high conversion rates, in addition to supporting the Centre Directors so that they can concentrate on managing the day-to-day operations of their centre.

Operations

Our full-service management group includes multi-tier operational management to support our centres. The organisational structure includes a National Operations Manager, Area Managers, plus additional Operations Support specialists, all in the field and providing onsite support to our centre teams.

Our Area Managers have a very low number of centres to support (generally 3-4 centres per Area Manager), to ensure our centre teams receive the high level of support they deserve. Our Area Managers are also located within proximity to the centres they manage to allow for regular centre visits. This local approach lends to in-depth knowledge of the local community, so they can also assist with building community partnerships and elevating the reputation of the centre.

The Operations Team provides support to the centres across the following areas:

  • Implementing proven systems and operational processes for the effective day-to-day management of each centre.
  • Providing mentoring and guidance to centre leaders and all staff to promote a high level of understanding of the Early Years Learning, including support with developing and updating their Quality Improvement Plan
  • Ensuring each centre operates according to company policies and procedures, legislative requirements, and the National Quality Framework.
  • Managing each centre’s budget and expenditure within budget guidelines.
  • Managing internal and external reporting requirements
  • Building and maintaining open and supportive communication with families at each centre.
  • Assessment and Rating preparation and ongoing support working on your QIP and practices
  • HR procedures and policies

People and Culture

Our People and Culture Team plays a crucial role in managing and supporting our centres’ most valuable asset: Our team members.

Due to the nature of our industry with staff shortages, our People and Culture Team members have a background in talent acquisition. This is to ensure we find, hire and retain the very best early childhood professionals in the industry.

At Imagine Education Group, we provide an end-to-end recruitment service, including writing posting job positions, filtering applications, scheduling, and conducting interviews and providing reference checks. We also provide a robust onboarding process, ongoing training and development, staff benefits program, employee satisfaction surveys, exit interviews. By overseeing the entire recruitment process for centres, this allows Centre Directors to concentrate on managing the day-to-day operations of their centre.

Our approach to attracting new team members is unique.  With extensive industry connections across RTO’s, Universities and TAFE’s in Australia, our People and Culture Team are able to source qualified, dedicated and passionate early childhood professionals.

Furthermore, Imagine Education Australia (vocational college) is part of the same group of companies as Imagine Education Group. Their Faculty of Children’s Services provides us with a continuous supply of qualified Educators and due to this strong partnership, we are uniquely positioned to address the industry’s staff shortage.

Our People & Culture Team also host successful Career Open Day events, which provide the chance to meet lots new faces all at once. These events have proven instrumental in attracting talent and showcasing our centres and is another unique way in which we attract top-notch talent to our already fantastic centre teams.

Training & Professional Development

We provide custom designed, practical and up-to-date early childhood workshops for early childhood professionals that refuel, inspire and stimulate our teams. Our Training Team works tirelessly around the clock to support our centre management teams in professional development sessions, through lunch and learn; out of hours training; and hands-on practical mentoring. Our Training and Development schedule runs all year long and in 2023, the Training Team ran a robust calendar which saw an incredible 351 courses delivered.

Our focus is primarily to ensure our centre teams are trained and up-to-date with the ever-changing regulations and legislation for our industry. Imagine Education Group provides Regulatory Requirements Training across the following areas:

• Active Supervision
• Administration of Medication
• Child Protection
• Child Safe Environments
• Medical Conditions
• NSW Child Safe Standards
• VIC Child Safe Standards
• Safe Sleeping

A very important part of our training program is the 3a Professional Practitioner Program.

Through this program, we proudly support our Educators in providing the highest quality care, ensuring that every child receives the nurturing guidance they need to thrive as they grow and learn. Our 3a Trainers offer our staff professional development training The Abecedarian Approach Australia in consultation with the prestigious Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

The Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a) holds a foundational role across all Imagine Education Group centres, seamlessly aligning with our educational philosophy. This approach stands as a cornerstone for fostering children’s learning and development, emphasising the significance of responsive and thoughtful Educators in shaping young minds.

Start Up Services

With a majority of the centres managed by Imagine Education Group originating as ‘new builds’, our Start Up Team are extremely experienced in taking newly constructed centres and preparing them to hand over to the Centre Director and their team, so they can hit the ground running.

This involves; unloading and unpacking all of the boxes from the trucks, putting together all the flat packed items, setting up all of the resources and placing them in the appropriate classrooms, and ensuring all of appropriate licensing gets done for a smooth opening of a new centre.

As start-up experts, their aim is to have a centre ready to open its doors the very next day after service approval is received. This efficiency ensures families can enrol and start as soon as possible and occupancy can start growing immediately.

Pedagogy & Curriculum

At Imagine Education Group we have a dedicated Curriculum and Pedagogy Team who are integral to shaping the educational experience within our centres.

The team are responsible for designing and developing curricula that align with NQF and meet the diverse needs of the children across our centres. They also work closely with Educational Leaders to assist in the development of a curriculum that clearly demonstrates the entire planning cycle under the NQF.

This involves creating instructional materials, setting learning objectives, and integrating effective teaching methodologies. The Curriculum and Pedagogy Team also provides professional development for Educators to enhance their teaching practices and ensures that pedagogical approaches are current and evidence-based. By evaluating and refining educational strategies, the Curriculum and Pedagogy Team aims to foster a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that promotes learning and engagement.

Finance

At Imagine Education Group, we have an extensive team of finance experts to ensure all financial aspects of running a centre is taken care of centrally. Our Finance team also provide strategic financial management services to ensure operational efficiency, such as roster and wage analysis, forecasting and reporting on KPI’s to name a few.

Some of our financial support services include:

  • Roster and wage analysis
  • Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Support
  • Kindergarten funding and approved program reviews
  • Occupancy forecasting and modelling
  • Payroll
  • Accounts receivable and payable
  • Service debt management
  • Monitoring of centre budgets and reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
  • BAS preparation
  • Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet Reporting
  • Weekly and monthly reports
  • Accounting and bookkeeping

Compliance & Quality

Our Compliance and Quality Team ensure our centres meet the required strict quality, safety and operational standards to protect and support he well-being and development of the children at our centres.

Compliance refers to adhering to a range of regulations, standards, and requirements set by government bodies and regulatory agencies to ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of educational programs and services for young children.

This includes following the National Quality Standard (NQS), which outlines the criteria for high-quality education and care services, and meeting the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.

From supporting Operations and our centres in preparing for assessments and ratings, to ensuring compliance with the National Quality Framework and Child Care Subsidy requirements. Our experienced Team is equipped to liaise with relevant authorities on the behalf of Approved Providers and Nominated Supervisors.

Compliance also involves adhering to health and safety standards, staff qualification requirements, and ensuring that policies and practices are in place to support child development, welfare, and protection. Our team also conducts regular assessments and audits to ensure that the centres we manage are meeting the standards and maintaining a safe, supportive, and educational environment for children.

Marketing

Our expert Marketing Team can provide everything from a customised Local Area Marketing Plan to drive family enquiries for a specific centre, or create national brand campaigns to grow brand awareness.

Our Imagine Education Group Marketing Team view each centre as a unique service provider and as such, work collaboratively with Area Managers and Centre Directors to ensure the right solution is devised for each centre.

Some of our areas of marketing include:

  • Social media content planning, development and implementation
  • Photography & Videography
  • Digital advertising
  • Newspaper, radio and TV advertising
  • Public relations
  • Event planning and management
  • Email campaigns
  • Copywriting
  • Graphic Design
  • Permanent and temporary centre signage
  • Customer review campaigns and reply management
  • Strategic community engagement
  • Letterbox drops
  • SEO, including writing blogs
  • Promotions
  • Competitor analysis
  • Printing
  • Facebook training to centre teams

Development & Construction Project Management

The Team’s core activities typically include identifying and acquiring properties, overseeing the design and construction processes, and managing the overall development lifecycle. The Team focuses on optimising property value and functionality, ensuring that projects meet market demands and regulatory standards.

Their expertise encompasses everything from initial planning and feasibility studies to project execution, often involving coordination with architects, engineers, and local authorities to deliver high-quality, successful childcare centre developments.

Their town planning expertise ensures that childcare centres are strategically located and designed to meet the needs of local communities while adhering to regulatory requirements. This involves detailed site analysis, zoning considerations, and infrastructure planning to create spaces that are both accessible and sustainable. On the project management front, the team oversees the entire lifecycle of each project, from initial concept and design through to construction and final implementation.

They coordinate with architects, contractors, and local authorities to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. Their meticulous approach ensures that every childcare centre is not only functional and attractive but also seamlessly integrated into its broader community context.

Maintenance & Facilities

The Maintenance and Facility Department of Imagine Education Group ensures that all our centres remain safe, clean, and welcoming for children and staff.

They handle routine maintenance and repairs of the centres, including playgrounds, classrooms, and equipment, as well as manage services such as cleaning, safety checks, and waste management. The department also oversees preventive maintenance to address potential issues before they become problems, ensuring minimal disruption to daily operations.

By maintaining a well-organised and functional environment, the Maintenance and Facilities Department supports a positive and nurturing space that fosters the children’s well-being and enhances the overall quality of care.

This includes overseeing routine maintenance and repairs of buildings, machinery, and equipment, as well as managing facility-related services such as cleaning, security, and waste management. The department coordinates preventive maintenance schedules to minimize downtime and address any issues promptly to avoid disruptions.

Information Technology

At Imagine Education Group, the Information and Technology Team is integral to driving innovation and maintaining operational efficiency across the organisation.

The Team specialises in developing, implementing, and managing advanced technological solutions that support various aspects of the business. Their day-to-day responsibilities include ensuring the seamless operation of IT infrastructure, overseeing network security, and managing data storage and retrieval systems. They work on integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and improve overall service delivery.

Additionally, the team provides technical support and training to staff, ensuring that staff in the field, at centres and at Support Office are all equipped to utilise technology effectively.