Early Childhood Service Area Manager

About Lifestart – NDIS Partner in the Community

YOUR FUTURE, EMPOWERED! 

Working at Lifestart means joining one of Australia’s leading disability service providers, built on strong values and lived experience. Founded in 1996 by eight families, Lifestart now operates across eight NSW offices, supporting over 10,000 children, young people, families and carers nationwide.

We deliver the NDIS Early Childhood Approach across NSW, partnering with families to support children aged 0–9 to build capacity and reach their full potential.

Summary

Join Lifestart in this 9-month fixed-term parental leave opportunity commencing in October 2026.

This hybrid role offers the flexibility of working 2 days from home and 3 days from our Port Kembla office. As the Early Childhood Service Area Manager, you’ll provide operational leadership to Team Leaders, Senior Coordinators and Early Childhood Coordinators, ensuring high-quality, person-centred services are delivered in line with NDIS requirements and Lifestart’s values. You’ll lead, coach and support your team while driving performance, collaboration and positive outcomes for children and families.

As the Service Area Manager for the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, you will be joining Lifestart’s Early Childhood Senior Leadership Team alongside 4 other Service Area Managers and a Program Enhancement Manager, reporting to the General Manager, Early Childhood. The team meet regularly online and in person, working collaboratively to ensure high quality supports are delivered across all five Lifestart EC regions. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary Early Childhood team including Education and Allied Health professionals, creating a positive, high-performing and collaborative culture.
• Drive the strategic direction of the Service Area, ensuring alignment with organisational goals, service plans and key performance outcomes.
• Coach, mentor and support Team Leaders to build capability, strengthen leadership and deliver exceptional services.
• Manage Service Area budgets and resources to achieve financial sustainability while maintaining quality outcomes.
• Ensure services are delivered in line with NDIS requirements, evidence-based practice and Lifestart’s person and family-centred approach.
• Monitor service performance, analyse data and use insights to drive continuous improvement and achieve key operational targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, community partners, government agencies and key stakeholders.
• Lead community engagement initiatives and identify opportunities to strengthen local partnerships and service impact.
• Promote a safe, compliant and inclusive workplace by overseeing risk management, work health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Champion innovation, continuous improvement and responsive service delivery to meet the evolving needs of children, families and communities.
• Prepare and oversee operational reporting, including performance metrics, critical incidents and organisational reporting requirements.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Experience working as an NDIS Partner in the Community preferred (Early Childhood Approach desirable, Local Area Coordination or Agency may demonstrate transferrable skills)
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood, Education, Allied Health, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience, preferably in the early childhood, disability or community services sector.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Early Childhood Intervention.
• Strong understanding of the NDIS and person and family-centred practice.
• Experience leading teams, managing performance and driving continuous improvement.
• Australian working rights.
• Current Working with Children Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check. (Or Willingness to obtain)
• Current Driver Licence and access to a reliable, insured vehicle.
• Ability to travel across service locations as required.

What Makes Lifestart Different? 

At Lifestart, we believe all children and young people living with disability can participate inclusively and meaningfully in their community. To achieve this, we place the child at the centre of all planning and decision making, supporting them to achieve their goals and live a fulfilling, meaningful life and we want see you succeed.  

Benefits include:  

• Competitive salary plus superannuation, annual leave loading and NFP salary packaging ($15,900 tax free) plus meals and entertainment allowance ($2650) (Estimate what your increased take-home pay would be – https://www.cbb.com.au/salary-packaging-calculator/)
• One week of paid gifted leave, one additional week of personal leave (15 days total), and cultural/ceremonial leave as part of Lifestart’s commitment to acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of our employee.
• Access to novated vehicle leasing and travel allowances.
• Flexible working conditions, minimum 3 days in the office per week.
• A strong focus on employee wellbeing, including access to a free Employee Assistance Program with complimentary counselling sessions, and regular dedicated days for team building and bonding.
• Access to structured professional development, supervision, and peer support, with a strong emphasis on career succession.
• Opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and families.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of children and families that need a little bit of extra support.  

Ready to apply? 

If you are ready to embrace a new challenge that will allow you to make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your experience and what drives you to join our team. 

For further information please see our website https://www.lifestart.org.au/our-culture/

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming people with disability or lived experience, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people from the LGBTQI+ community and those people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to our team. When you join Lifestart, we will value each individual’s unique contribution.  

We are not accepting introductions from recruitment agencies.