Everything Early Childhood

Is It Time to Sell? How to Know, Prepare, and Let Go with Grace Synopsis: In this heartfelt solo episode, Leeza Browne, founder of Platinum Education Group and trusted advisor to child care owners across Australia, opens up about one of the most difficult and emotional decisions in business: knowing when it’s time to sell your child care service. If you’ve found yourself whispering “Maybe I should just sell…”, this episode is for you. Leeza shares the signs it might be time to step away, the psychology behind why we default to that thought in tough seasons, and what the real process of preparing your service for sale looks like — emotionally and practically. She also vulnerably shares her own story of making the decision to sell her beloved service while growing Platinum Education Group, and how that moment became a turning point in both her purpose and legacy. 💡 Inside this episode: • How to know when it’s time to sell • Why “I just want to sell” is often a cry for relief • Leeza’s personal experience making the decision • What buyers are looking for and the 12-month prep window • What to do if selling isn’t the answer — but something still needs to change Whether you’re considering selling, shifting, or simply feeling stuck — you’re not alone. There is another way, and this episode will help you start exploring what’s next, with heart and clarity. 🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs to hear this. 📩 Want to talk it through? DM Leeza @platinumeducationgroup

🌿 NEW EPISODE – For the Ones Who Are Holding It All Together (Even When It Feels Like It’s Falling Apart) If you’ve ever sat in your car before a shift, taken a deep breath, and thought, *“I don’t know if I can do this today”… this one’s for you. 💔 This week on the Everything Early Childhood Podcast, we’re saying the things no one wants to admit out loud — the thoughts, doubts, and silent struggles that so many directors and child care owners carry in their hearts. 🎙 Episode: “The Things We’re All Thinking… But No One’s Saying” Inside, we unpack: ✨ Why shame keeps us silent ✨ The real thoughts you're not alone in having ✨ The myth of “having it all together” ✨ What to do when you're questioning it all ✨ And a gentle reminder: you’re not broken — you’re just human. You are allowed to feel overwhelmed. You are allowed to question. You are allowed to need a moment to breathe. And you are still enough — more than enough. 💛 If your heart needs a soft place to land today, come and join me for this raw, honest, soul-nourishing episode. Tag a leader who needs this reminder. You don’t have to do it all alone. #EverythingEarlyChildhood #HeartLedLeadership #ChildCareDirector #RealTalk #EarlyLearning #ECELeader #BurnoutRecovery #YouAreNotAlone #ECEPodcast #LeadershipWithHeart #ImperfectAndPowerful

Feeling constantly exhausted, emotionally drained, or like rest just isn’t doing the job anymore? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t have to be this way. In this powerful episode of Everything Early Childhood, Leeza is joined by Phil Wolffe, Workplace Wellbeing Specialist and Founder of Kinex Health, to unpack what’s really going on in our early childhood workplaces when it comes to stress, burnout, and recovery. Together, they explore: The current state of wellbeing in early learning services The difference between stress and burnout, and why it matters Why taking time off often leads to guilt—and how to flip that mindset The science behind recovery and what your body and brain truly need Practical steps leaders and educators can take today to create healthier, more sustainable environments Whether you're a centre owner, director, or educator, this episode will help you reframe what wellbeing really means and how we can do better—for ourselves and our teams. 💼 Connect with Phil Wolffe: 🌐 Website: www.kinexhealth.com.au 📧 Email: [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: Phil Wolffe

In this honest and unscripted mini episode, recorded mid-safari during a much-needed break, Leeza opens up about the internal struggle many leaders face: the guilt of resting. She shares personal stories from her leadership journey, the burnout she faced when she gave too much of herself, and the powerful mindset shifts that have helped her redefine consistency, success, and boundaries. If you’re a passionate business owner, director, or educator who’s been pushing through, this episode is your permission to pause, reconnect with your why, and remember that rest is part of the work — not a reward for it. In this episode, Leeza explores: The personal struggle of setting boundaries (even on holiday) Why rest is essential to sustainable leadership Questions to ask yourself when you feel pulled in too many directions How to reconnect with your purpose when you feel overwhelmed

Let’s connect: Instagram: @platinumedgroup Website: www.platinumed.com.au Email: [email protected]

Why Bother Aiming for Exceeding? In this powerful follow-up episode, Leeza Browne opens up the conversation around striving for Exceeding in early childhood services—and why giving up on high standards comes at a cost we can’t afford. You’ll hear real feedback from the community, honest reflections about where educators and leaders are really at, and practical strategies for getting your team on board the journey toward quality. This episode dives into: Why Exceeding isn’t about perfection—it’s about purpose What the NQS ratings really mean (and how to explain them clearly) How to train and inspire your team when they’re unsure or overwhelmed Why standards matter, and who we’re really doing this for What to do when your team has never seen another service Plus, Leeza shares a moment from the floor that reminded her just how important it is to meet people where they’re at, and help them see what exceeding looks like.

Connect with Leeza Browne: Website: www.platinumed.com.au Instagram: @platinumeducationgroup LinkedIn: Leeza Browne Email: [email protected]

If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to leave a review or share it with someone in your early childhood circle. Let’s raise the bar, together.

In this powerful episode, host Leeza Browne from Platinum Ed is joined by the incredible Kerra-Lee Wescombe, Director of Connect.Ed, to explore the critical role of trauma-informed practice in early childhood education. With over 10 years of experience across therapeutic care, consulting, and professional development, Kerra-Lee shares why connection—not control—is key to supporting children’s development and wellbeing. We unpack the staggering statistic that 2 in 3 children experience trauma before the age of five, and what this means for educators and early learning environments. We also dive into: What trauma-informed practice really looks like in early childhood Why behaviourism often misses the mark How services can access support and training The power of body-based strategies to support regulation And why educators should never feel like they have to do it alone Whether you're a centre director, educator, or aspiring leader, this episode will challenge your thinking, uplift your spirit, and leave you with practical insights to create safer, more connected spaces for children to thrive.

The Four Corners episode Betrayal of Trust – Child Care in Crisis has once again put early childhood education under the microscope. While it revealed serious failures that demand accountability, it also painted an incomplete and fear-driven picture of our sector. In this powerful and solution-focused episode, I address: ✅ What the Four Corners episode got right—and what was missing. ✅ The public release of compliance reports (Standing Order 52) and why it’s concerning. ✅ How services can respond to increased scrutiny and protect their educators. ✅ The real issue—training & workforce conditions—and why fixing this is the key to real change. ✅ How we take back the narrative by sharing stories of the incredible educators who go above and beyond. Now, more than ever, we need to stand up for children, educators, and the future of early childhood education. If we don’t tell our story, someone else will—and we can’t afford to let fear define our profession. Let’s talk solutions. Let’s advocate for change. Let’s remind the world why early childhood education matters.

In this episode we explore the powerful analogy of "emptying the sandpit" and how it applies to setting up strong systems and structures in your service. Just like refreshing the sandpit create a clean foundation for play, resetting expectations, re-inducting staff and reinforcing key knowledge helps teams start fresh and aligned. we'll cover: - why assuming everyone knows nothing (even seasoned educators) sets the team up for success - the importance of re-inductions and refreshing the team knowledge - Strategies for embedding training and retaining information - Practical steps to ensure systems and processes stay strong throughout the year Tune in to discover how you can refresh, realign and build a strong foundation for your teams success!

🎙 Everything Early Childhood Podcast – Featuring Ray Everest 🚀 Deep Dive into Early Childhood Business, Success & Advocacy In this powerful episode, I sit down with Ray Everest, co-founder of Future Focus in New Zealand, for an eye-opening conversation on the future of early childhood education. Ray brings a unique perspective with his background as a high school teacher, principal, and early learning centre owner. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges and transformations in children over the years, he’s now leading the charge to unite early childhood services and provide critical support for early intervention. What can we do to make a real impact? 🌱 Listen in as we explore: 🔹 The business of early childhood and setting up for success 🔹 How manifestation plays a role in leadership and growth 🔹 The advocacy movement that’s reshaping support for early childhood services 🔹 The power of uniting services for better outcomes for children 💡 Watch this space—if anyone is leading the charge, be thankful it’s Ray! 🎧 Tune in now! This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about making a lasting difference in early childhood education. #EverythingEarlyChildhood #FutureFocus #EarlyChildhoodAdvocacy #ChildhoodSuccess #Manifestation #EarlyIntervention #Leadership

Jake’s departure marks a turning point, and this episode captures the highs, lows, and everything in between in his Journey at Platinum Education. Tune in for an unfiltered discussion about the spirit of authenticity, the lessons learned, and how child care leaders can embrace change with grace and growth.