16 DecBest Start, Best Life reforms – Change Management Toolkit available
The scale of the Best Start, Best Life reforms means there will be some degree of change at every service. As well as the tailored support local Early Childhood Improvement Branches are providing to services, the department has released a Change Management Toolkit.
The Toolkit, which follows the release of the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep operational policy settings which will apply from 2026, is primarily for service leaders and centre managers/directors in standalone (sessional) kindergarten services and long day care centres. It may also be useful for teachers and educators.
The Toolkit provides key information about the reforms and how to plan and implement Pre-Prep and continue to roll out Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.
The Toolkit has information and tools about:
- how to use your teams’ knowledge and expertise to inform the way changes are made
- leading change, including 3 core change principles you can use that are based on research with leaders in early childhood services
- program modelling options, including multi-age groups, rotational models, teaching longer days and team teaching
- retaining and valuing your skilled teachers and educators
- engaging and communicating with families about the reforms and Pre-Prep
- supporting families and children from priority cohorts with early access to Pre-Prep in 2026.
Information in the Toolkit is applicable to all Victorian providers and services, from large providers with multiple services to small kindergartens with a parent-run committee of management.
For any questions or suggestions about the toolkit, email bsbl.changemanagement@education.vic.gov.au.
