The Early Childhood Induction Toolkit is a suite of optional resources designed to support leaders, mentors, and managers in effectively inducting new team members into early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
A well-structured induction process fosters a positive experience for new staff, enhancing engagement, retention, and overall service quality.
This toolkit provides guidance on structuring an effective induction, ensuring service leaders, and new team members feel valued and equipped for success.
Who is the toolkit for?
This toolkit is designed for individuals responsible for leading the induction process, including:
- service leaders and managers
- mentors and buddy educators
- team members supporting new staff.
Why induction matters
Induction is more than just an introduction—it is a critical investment in the success and wellbeing of both new educators and the service. A well-planned induction:
- strengthens team cohesion and professional identity
- clarifies expectations and role responsibilities
- promotes engagement and long-term job satisfaction
- enhances the quality of education and care
- supports compliance with child safety and workplace standards.
How to use this toolkit
The use of these non-mandatory resources aims to improve structure and support the induction experience for new staff members. They can be used as a foundation to develop a new induction process or to enhance existing induction processes. Leaders, mentors and managers using these resources are encouraged to adapt resources where needed to their own context and according to the needs of the new staff being inducted into the service. Use of these materials is optional.
Building a stronger future for early childhood education
A well-supported induction process benefits not only new educators but the entire service, contributing to a high-quality learning environment for children. By investing in structured and meaningful induction practices, ECEC services can create a culture of support, professionalism, and long-term success.
As a complement to these induction resources, you will also find practical strategies for creating strong workplace cultures in the Early Childhood Workforce Retention Guide (PDF, 3.9MB).
For support or questions regarding these resources, please contact early.years.workforce@education.vic.gov.au
Other supports
With significant change underway within the early childhood sector in relation to the Best Start, Best Life reforms, the department’s Change Management Toolkit has been created to assist with planning.
It is designed that you can use the toolkit alongside:
- the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) (PDF, 1.98MB), which provides guidelines and practice resources for all professionals who work with children aged 0 to 8
- the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten teaching toolkit, which provides professional learning and practice support for services delivering funded programs
- Your guide to: Multi-age groups (PDF, 322KB)
- Your guide to: Rotational models (PDF, 464KB)
- Your guide to: Team teaching (PDF, 669KB)
- Your guide to: Longer days (PDF, 791KB)
Other relevant information and guides might also include:
- School Readiness Funding application guidance
- Kindergarten Inclusion Support application guidance.
Updated