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ECA Leadership Program

Founded on expert research and five years of sector consultation, The ECA Leadership Program is an essential tool for all educators seeking to improve their leadership skills.

Get started on your leadership journey by purchasing the ECA Leadership Program or download the information booklet.

At a Glance

Who should enrol?

Experienced and new service directors and managers
educational leaders
team or room leaders
experienced childhood educators and tachers
early childhood consultants
aspiring leaders.

Flexible learning

Over 20 hours of content
self-paced
enrol at any time
access to online program content for 6 months.

What's included?

12 online professional learning courses
program folder
ECA Leadership Capability Framework
certificate of completion.

Program Overview

The ECA Leadership Program was designed by early childhood experts and quality-assured by practising early childhood leaders.

Specifically created as a strengths-based, self-directed program for both current and aspiring early childhood leaders in diverse settings, our the ECA Leadership Program is suitable for educators at any stage in their leadership journey.

The ECA Leadership Capability Framework

The ECA Leadership Capability Framework is the foundation of the program. It establishes a vision for leadership that can be applied to leadership at all levels and in all contexts within early year settings.

The ECA Leadership Capability Framework is designed to support you and your team to take responsibility for professional growth, and is part of the pathway toward building personal and professional capacity and professional identity. The framework is made up of:

six leadership capabilities
21 key aspects of effective leadership.

More information about the ECA Leadership Capability Framework can be found within the ECA Leadership Program information booklet.

Pricing

Early Childhood Australia provides multiple options for learners. ECA Members and ECA Learning Hub Subscribers are eligible for a discounts. If you are a ECA Learning Hub Subscriber please contact customer service to access your discount.

ECA Member

$552

ECA Learning Hub Subscriber

$585

Non-Member

$649

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did ECA develop this program?

ECA consistently runs surveys and talks to the early learning and care sector. Sector feedback included a clear request for a detailed leadership resource specifically designed for busy, well-established and also aspiring managers. ECA acknowledges that many of our leaders often ‘land’ in leadership or managerial roles and learn on the job. This Leadership Program will help to cement the foundations of best-practice leadership, including a shared vision and language among teams.

I am already a well-established leader, why would I undertake the ECA Leadership Program?

The ECA Leadership Program provides the sector’s first best-practice leadership capability framework that all leaders should ideally be adhering to. No leader, regardless of how experienced they are, ever stops learning. Improving your own performance not only provides great satisfaction for yourself, but also directly benefits your work teams and ultimately the children in your care. This program will provide you with additional skills to guide your team managers by providing a shared vision, framework and understanding. For example, it will help to set a collaborative working team tone, help you manage staff transitions—especially during staff turnover—and also, importantly, allow you to get the best from your team members.

What platform should I use to access online learning content?

If you are using a computer, laptop or tablet, we recommend accessing program contents (including modules and webinars) using Chrome (for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh users) as your Internet browser. The program is available through the ECA Learning Hub portal.

How do I request feedback on my Personalised Professional Learning Plan?

It is completely optional to request sector mentor feedback on your Personalised Professional Learning Plan. The ECA mentor provides you with suggested feedback and is 100 per cent confidential, focusing on building leader skills, as well as being supportive and encouraging. We recognise that being a leader in our sector can be quite an isolating experience and we want to provide you with quality resources to help you reach your potential. You can request feedback on your plan by emailing customerservice@earlychildhood.org.au.

The ECA Leadership Program is for one person to undertake, but bulk purchasing is available and there are many benefits to undertaking the program at the same time as others.

Can I use the ECA Leadership Program towards my professional development hours?

Yes, in many States and Territories you are able to use the ECA Leadership Program towards self-identified professional development; check with the teacher registration board/body in your State or Territory. The ECA Leadership Program has been mapped to the National Quality Framework and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

I am having trouble accessing the leadership course online

Please contact customerservice@earlychildhood.org.au specifying your question/problem and best contact details.

My ECA Leadership Program folder hasn’t arrived

Please contact customerservice@earlychildhood.org.au with your question and best contact details. A member of the ECA Customer Service Team will chase up your order and return your email within three to five business days.

When will I receive my certificate of completion?

Early Childhood Australia prints certificates quarterly and will supply you with a hard copy ECA Leadership Program certificate in that timeframe.

About the Author

Dr Leanne Gibbs is a researcher, author and consultant. She consults on leadership and public policy in education and care. Leanne is also a doctoral candidate at Charles Sturt University and works as a principle researcher for a large public provider of early childhood education.