A practical sprint for filling an immediate childcare vacancy

There is no tactic that guarantees a fast enrolment. The best chance comes from making one real vacancy easy to understand and acting quickly on families who are already a plausible match.

Day 1: define the place

Write down the room, age range, days, start date and any flexibility. Confirm it is operationally available, not only theoretically open on the service approval.

Day 2: review existing demand

Check current families seeking extra days, siblings, room transitions and recent waitlist records. Contact only families whose preferences and consent support the approach. Do not revive old marketing contacts without considering privacy and the purpose for which their information was collected. ^R11

Day 3: update public information

Update the service website, StartingBlocks.gov.au and Google Business Profile. Keep the wording specific and date-stamped. Families can already compare vacancies, fees and quality information through Starting Blocks. ^R4

Day 4: contact relevant local networks

Use channels that match the vacancy: local parent communities, employers, schools, allied-health networks or community organisations. Follow group rules and avoid posting children’s information or unsupported claims.

Day 5: make the next step easy

Offer a clear choice: ask a question, request a call or book/request a tour. Do not label a form as instant booking if staff must approve the time.

Days 6–7: follow up and record outcomes

Assign one owner. Record whether each suitable family was contacted, responded, toured, received an offer or declined. Capture the reason without pressuring the family.

Judge the sprint by more than enquiries. The useful measures are suitable conversations, tours, offers and accepted enrolments.

Practical next step: repeat the process for one vacancy only. If it does not produce suitable interest, revisit local demand, the attendance pattern, fee position and service proposition before spending more on promotion.

Related guides

• How to show childcare availability without promising a place
• How to get more useful childcare enquiries
• Why childcare enquiries are not turning into enrolments