Early Childhood Training and Resource Centre ECTARC

What Early Childhood Training and Resource Centre ECTARC does

ECTARC (Early Childhood Training and Resource Centre) is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation and community-owned childcare operator, incorporated in 1988 as Illawarra Area Child Care LTD (IACC) — a company limited by guarantee governed by a voluntary Board of Directors including parent representatives. The organisation operates two interconnected business lines: (1) early education and care services — 11 community-owned centres (6 long daycare, 3 occasional care, 2 multipurpose) across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of NSW, all of which have repeatedly achieved 'exceeding' ratings against the National Quality Standard; and (2) vocational training — nationally recognised Certificate III and Diploma qualifications in Early Childhood Education and Care, School Age Education and Care, and Leadership & Management, delivered via flexible study, funded traineeships, and apprenticeships across NSW, QLD, and ACT under government programs (NSW Smart and Skilled, QLD Skills Assure, ACT Skilled Capital). Training delivery is supported by three integrated platforms — the Canvas-based ECTARC Training Portal (LMS), the JobReady Student Management Portal, and the Unit Purchasing Portal for self-serve e-commerce — with virtual practical assessments conducted via Blackboard Collaborate when workplace visits are not feasible. Revenue is generated from a mix of fee-for-service unit purchases, government-subsidised traineeships, employer-sponsored training, paid consultancy services to other ECEC operators, and conference registration fees (Regenerate Conference 2026 at $600/$330 inc GST). The organisation is led by CEO Anita Kumar and Board Chair Kirsty Shee, with strategic positioning anchored in its 35-year operating history, Reconciliation Action Plan commitments (Innovate RAP 2023-2025), and sustained ASQA RTO registration under Code 90331.

Name

Early Childhood Training and Resource Centre ECTARC

Legal name

Illawarra Area Child Care LTD (IACC)

Website

https://ectarc.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECTARC is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation and community-owned childcare operator, delivering nationally recognised VET qualifications in early childhood education across NSW, QLD, and ACT while running 11 community-owned early education and care services in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-Service ECE Credential Programs (Certificates/Diplomas/Degrees) (EDACAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), ECE Leadership & Administration Training (Directors/Owners/Supervisors) (EDACAIAD), Accreditation Support (NAEYC/NECPA/State) (EDACAKAD)

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• Early childhood education
• Registered training organisation
• Childcare services
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Kembla

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Funded Training Programs: ECTARC is an approved provider for government-funded traineeships and apprenticeships in NSW (Smart and Skilled), QLD (Skills Assure), and ACT (Skilled Capital). Students may access subsidised training under these programs, reducing or eliminating tuition costs for eligible participants.
2. Flexible Study (Fee for Service): Students purchase individual units via the ECTARC Unit Purchasing Portal at set unit prices. Payments can be made online by credit card or direct deposit. Employers can pay on behalf of students. Students have up to 2 years (Certificate III/IV, Diploma of Early Childhood) or 3 years (Diploma of School Age Education and Care) to complete. Extension fees apply beyond the enrolment period.
3. Employer-Sponsored Training: Employers can pay for employee studies in advance, with credit remaining on the student's account. Where a student withdraws, employers can transfer enrolment to another staff member. Any employer payments over $1,500 require approval by ECTARC Management and CEO.
4. Conference Registration: ECTARC charges registration fees for the Regenerate Conference professional development event. Two-day tickets are priced at $600 (inc GST) and one-day tickets at $330 (inc GST). An optional networking dinner on Friday evening is available for an additional fee.
5. Consultancy Services: ECTARC offers paid consultancy services to early childhood education and care services, including self-assessment against the National Quality Standard, Quality Improvement Plan development, leadership practices, program development, human resources management, and professional development. Obligation-free quotes are provided.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECTARC is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation (RTO Code 90331) that delivers nationally recognised vocational qualifications in early childhood education and care (Certificate III, Diploma, Certificate IV in Leadership and Management) through flexible online study, traineeships, apprenticeships, Recognition of Prior Learning, and government-funded programs across NSW, QLD, and ACT. In parallel, the organisation operates 11 community-owned long daycare, occasional care, and multipurpose early education and care services in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of NSW, supported by integrated Canvas LMS, JobReady, and Blackboard Collaborate platforms, and supplemented by professional development webinars, workshops, the biennial Regenerate Conference, and paid consultancy to ECEC operators.

Product overview

ECTARC is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and early childhood education provider operating as a not-for-profit company. Its portfolio consists of two interconnected service lines: (1) Early Education and Care Services — operating 11 community-owned childcare centres across NSW providing direct care to children, and (2) Training Services — a comprehensive vocational education and training division delivering nationally recognised qualifications (Certificate III and Diploma levels in Early Childhood Education and Care, School Age Education and Care, and Leadership) through flexible study, traineeships, and funded programs across NSW, QLD, and ACT. Training delivery is supported by three online platforms: the Canvas-based Training Portal (for learning materials and assessments), the JobReady Student Management Portal (for records and results), and the Unit Purchasing Portal (for individual unit purchases). ECTARC also provides consultancy services and hosts the annual Regenerate Conference professional development event. The organisation is approved by ASQA and operates under government-funded training schemes including Smart and Skilled, Skills Assure, and Skilled Capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care Nationally recognised qualification training students to work as early childhood educators in long day care, family day care, and occasional care settings. Includes 120 hours of practical work placement across different age groups.
• CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care Nationally recognised Diploma for early childhood educators planning to take on roles with leadership responsibilities. Requires completion of Certificate III as prerequisite. Includes 240 hours of practical work placement across different age groups and additional needs contexts.
• CHC50225 Diploma of School Age Education and Care Nationally recognised Diploma for educators working with school-age children in outside school hours care settings. Includes 240 hours of practical work placement across different age groups and additional needs contexts.
• 10983NAT Certificate III in Outside School Hours Care

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 community-owned early education and care services achieving 'exceeding' ratings against the National Quality Standard
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kinex HealthminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Kinex Health is the major sponsor of the ECTARC Regenerate Conference 2026. Kinex Health is a leading provider of workplace wellbeing programs across Australia, having delivered over 25,000 health consultations. The conference keynote on wellbeing is presented by Phil Wolff, co-founder of Kinex Health.
• NSW Smart and SkilledcoreOthersECTARC is an approved provider under the NSW Smart and Skilled program, a NSW Government initiative that provides subsidies for vocational education and training. ECTARC's RTO Code 90331 is listed as a Smart and Skilled Training Provider on the NSW Government website.
• Skills Assure (QLD)coreOthersECTARC is an approved provider under the QLD Skills Assure program, a Queensland Government initiative that provides subsidised training. The Skills Assure logo is displayed on ECTARC's website as a partner.
• Skills Canberra (ACT Skilled Capital)coreOthersECTARC is an approved provider for ACT Funded Training under the Skilled Capital program, a Canberra-based initiative that provides funding for vocational education and training in the ACT.
• ACT GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECTARC displays an ACT Government partner logo on its website, indicating an official partnership or recognition relationship with the ACT Government related to training and education services.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CommunitiescoreOthersECTARC's Reconciliation Action Plan reflects its commitment to working with and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ECTARC acknowledges traditional custodians of the lands across which it operates and delivers training to students on many different regional, remote and metropolitan Aboriginal lands across Australia.
• Instructure (Canvas)coreTechnology or IntegrationECTARC uses Instructure's Canvas learning management system for its Training Portal, which provides secure, 24-hour access to learning materials, assignments, assessment results, and communication with Training and Development Officers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Affinity Education Group: National for-profit ECE operator with its own training programs for educators. Comparable in offering ECE qualifications and in-service PD at scale, though structured as a corporate group rather than NFP.
• KU Children's Services: Large Australian not-for-profit early childhood education and care provider with internal training pathways and a national footprint. Comparable in NFP governance and ECE operating scale, though training is predominantly internal rather than external RTO delivery.
• Goodstart Early Learning: Australia's largest not-for-profit early childhood education provider, operating over 660 centres nationally with structured internal educator training and credential pathways. A scaled NFP analogue with significant training infrastructure.

Direct peers

• TAFE NSW: New South Wales' public vocational education provider delivering Certificate III, Diploma, and short-course credentials including Early Childhood Education and Care. Most direct competitor for funded and fee-for-service enrolments in ECTARC's home state.
• Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT): ACT's public vocational education provider delivering ECE qualifications under the Skilled Capital scheme. Directly comparable to ECTARC's ACT traineeship/funded program line.
• TAFE Queensland: Queensland's public VET provider offering CHC30125, CHC50125, and OSHC qualifications, plus funded programs through Skills Assure. Directly comparable to ECTARC's QLD offering and a primary competitor for subsidised students in that jurisdiction.
• Gowrie Australia: Federated not-for-profit operating early childhood training and related professional development services across multiple Australian states. Closest structural analogue to ECTARC's combined training-plus-services, NFP-governance model.

Others

• Australian Childcare Alliance: National peak body representing private long-day-care operators, providing advocacy, professional development, and member services to the ECE sector. Comparable in delivering PD and consultancy-style services to ECE operators, but not an RTO.

Regional players

• Chisholm Institute: Victorian public TAFE delivering ECE credentials and OSHC training. Comparable curriculum and delivery model but operates in a different state, functioning as a regional rather than direct competitor to ECTARC's three jurisdictions.

Emerging players

• Imagine Education Australia: Queensland-based private RTO delivering CHC30125, CHC50125, and related ECE qualifications through online and blended study modes. Comparable as a smaller-scale competitor in ECTARC's QLD footprint, particularly in the fee-for-service flexible study segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ectarc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/early-childhood-training-and-resource-centre-ectarc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Early Childhood Training and Resource Centre ECTARC