As The Institute takes shape, one message is guiding our work: the voices of educators, teachers and the broader early childhood workforce must be at the centre of what we do.

Over recent months, the Team has been travelling across Queensland to meet with educators, teachers, service leaders and sector stakeholders — not only to introduce The Institute, but most importantly to listen.

From the Early Years Conference in Cairns and the Yalarni Cultural Connections Conference in Rockhampton, to the Moreton Bay Early Learning Conference in Petrie, the ACA Queensland National Conference and the Early Childhood Teachers Association Conference in Brisbane, we have had the privilege of speaking with passionate professionals from across the sector.

These conversations have provided valuable insights into both the rewards and the challenges of working in early childhood education and care. Educators and teachers have shared what they love most about their work — building strong relationships with children and families, creating meaningful learning experiences, and making a lasting difference in young lives. They have also spoken candidly about the pressures they face, the barriers to professional growth and development, and the practical changes that would make a difference in their day-to-day work.

Listening to this feedback is critical as we continue to design and establish The Institute. We want to ensure the experiences, aspirations and challenges of the workforce directly inform our thinking, priorities and future initiatives.

The question we continue to ask is simple: what will make a difference to you in your day-to-day work?

By listening, learning and working together, we can help shape an Institute that responds to the needs of the workforce and supports a stronger, more connected and more sustainable early childhood workforce for Queensland.