Goodstart Early Learning

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Australian early childhood education organisation

title: "Goodstart Early Learning" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2010-establishments-in-australia", "child-care-companies", "companies-based-in-brisbane"] description: "Australian early childhood education organisation" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodstart_Early_Learning" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Australian early childhood education organisation ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
nameGoodstart Early Learning
typeNonprofit organisation
industryEarly Childhood Education
predecessorABC Learning
num_locations660 centres
key_peopleRos Baxter - CEO
Paul Robertson AO - Goodstart Chair, Non-executive Director.
ownerBrotherhood of St Laurence
Mission Australia
The Benevolent Society
Social Ventures Australia
foundation2010
locationBrisbane, Australia
::

| name = Goodstart Early Learning | logo = | type = Nonprofit organisation | industry = Early Childhood Education | predecessor = ABC Learning | num_locations = 660 centres | key_people = Ros Baxter - CEO Paul Robertson AO - Goodstart Chair, Non-executive Director. | owner = Brotherhood of St Laurence Mission Australia The Benevolent Society Social Ventures Australia | foundation = 2010 | location = Brisbane, Australia

Goodstart Early Learning is Australia's largest early learning provider. Formed in 2010 by a syndicate of charities, Goodstart is a not-for-profit organisation that currently has 649 child care centres around Australia. Goodstart's head office is located in Brisbane, Australia, in the suburb of Murarrie. Across Australia, approximately 70,000 children attend Goodstart. Goodstart currently employs more than 13,000 staff members.

History

Goodstart was formed after a syndication of charities bought out ABC Learning Centres when they went into voluntary liquidation in 2008. The Goodstart syndicate was built in two separate stages. The Benevolent Society, Social Ventures Australia, and Mission Australia came together in 2008. The Brotherhood of St Laurence joined the group in 2009.

The group approached private and public investors to raise the capital needed to buy out ABC Learning. With $15 million contributed by the Australian Federal Government as a medium-term loan, the syndication of charities was named as the preferred bidders in December 2009.

Centres and facilities

Goodstart centres provide 3 types of care. These include:

  • Early learning and childcare
  • Kindergarten and preschool
  • Vacation and before/after school care.

Please note: Not every centre offers vacation care and before/after school care, parents, guardians and caregivers are recommended to contact their local centre to confirm what is provided and available to families and children.

Goodstart centres are primarily located in and near capital cities. Only 20% of centres are in regional or rural locations.

Social impact

Goodstart states one of its strategic goals as being “Inclusion – Enhance outcomes for children in vulnerable circumstances”.

A report delivered by independent organisation Impact Investing Australia found:

  • Goodstart has over 170 centres located in communities with a Socio-Economic Index (SEIFA) in the bottom 30% of communities.
  • 130 centres are in communities where the percentage of children assessed as developmentally vulnerable through the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) is 1.5 times higher than the national average.
  • Over 1,000 children with special needs are catered for in Goodstart centres annually.

Financial status

Goodstart is a Public Company and is ranked at 454 out of the top 2,000 companies in Australia. Total revenue generated in 2016 was reported as more than $900,000,000.

News and research

Goodstart has been in the news for current affairs and research contributions throughout the years they have been operating. Summaries of recent articles include:

  1. February 2020: Two staff working for Goodstart Early Learning in Edmonton (QLD) were charged with manslaughter, following the death of a three-year-old who was left in a daycare pickup van for a number of hours.
  2. July 2017: Goodstart Early Learning in Glenfield Park (NSW) participated in a joint initiative with the Riviera Gums Retirement Village. Ongoing from January, children visited residents for an hour each month and did activities with them.
  3. June 2017: Goodstart Early Learning in Goonellabah (NSW) had an electrical fire scare after a hot joint in the meter box. The centre was evacuated and no major damage was recorded.
  4. January 2017: An employee from an Oxenford centre (in Queensland) lodged a statement of claim against Goodstart after sustaining a personal injury while changing a nappy in June 2014.
  5. March 2017: Goodstart found 60% of households find child care unaffordable. They surveyed more than 1,500 families, and 82% of respondents said they would work more if child care was more affordable.
  6. May 2016: Local parents publicly opposed the proposed expansion of the Myaree (WA) centre, citing increased traffic and decreased quality of care as key concerns.

References

References

  1. Munro, Kelsey. (2016-11-13). "Boom time for corporate childcare in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. Goodstart Early Learning. "Our Story".
  3. Mariner, Cosima. (2012-05-20). "What comes after ABC?". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. (January 2014). "Goodstart Early Learning response to the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement for changes to the National Quality Framework".
  5. (6 November 2008). "The 7.30 Report - ABC".
  6. Social Ventures Australia. "GoodStart: a social investment story".
  7. (2009-12-09). "Charities to buy ABC Learning centres".
  8. "Charities buy ABC Learning centres". NewsComAu.
  9. Goodstart Early Learning. "Find a centre".
  10. Goodstart Early Learning. "Find a centre".
  11. Impact Investing Australia. "Case Study - Goodstart Early Learning".
  12. "Goodstart Early Learning Ltd - Retail".
  13. Goodstart Early Learning. "Annual Report 2016".
  14. (2020-02-25). "Minibus driver and woman face manslaughter charges over Cairns toddler's death".
  15. "Pre-schoolers bring energy to retirement living". Aged Care Guide.
  16. Jambor, Claudia. "Firies to the rescue after fire scare at childcare centre". Northern Star.
  17. "Gold Coast Bulletin".
  18. "Subscribe {{!}} heraldsun".
  19. (2016-05-27). "Myaree: parents unhappy at Goodstart Early Learning's plans for expansion {{!}} Community News Group". Community News Group.
  20. "Goodstart Early Learning on The Australian Child Care Index". echildcare.com.au.
  21. "Archived copy".
  22. "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories".
  23. Amy Mitchell-Whittington. (6 May 2016). "One in five Australian kids disadvantaged when start school, report finds". Brisbane Times.
  24. Australian Community Media - Fairfax Media. (6 May 2016). "Early mother's day delights mums". The Standard.
  25. EMMA MASLIN. (3 May 2016). "Goodstart kids rock crazy hair - Photos". Forbes Advocate.
  26. "Nocookies". The Australian.
  27. (4 May 2016). "Budget 2016". ABC News.
  28. "Childcare workers get support for school". Grafton Daily Examiner.
  29. "Nocookies". The Australian.
  30. Aimee Chanthadavong. "Goodstart takes lessons from Interactive Intelligence on customer experience". ZDNet.
  31. "Star Weekly - Ryan gets a buzz from cancer fundraiser - Star Weekly". Star Weekly.
  32. "Goodstart Early Learning goes pink for morning tea". Grafton Daily Examiner.

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