“Leadership is not about what we do. It begins with who we are.”

At Mother Duck Childcare, this belief is more than a guiding principle—it’s the heartbeat of our organisation. The philosophy of ethical leadership is the springboard for our approach to recruitment and advertising. It’s why we don’t just hire staff—we seek leaders and child advocates. People who embody the courage to speak up, the curiosity to ask questions, and the integrity to act in the best interest of children.

A Legacy of Care and Excellence

Mother Duck Childcare began as a humble dream in 1990, when our founders Ros and Denis Hinton purchased a small centre in Enoggera—an old church hall beside the railway station. Ros worked in that centre for nine years, laying the foundation for what would become our enduring legacy: Excellence in Care and Education. Denis and Ros’s dedication and vision established our reputation for quality and heart-centred childcare, built upon a foundation of deeply valuing the people we employ. As our organisation has grown and developed, the intentional focus on the people we recruit, train and lead remains one of our highest priorities. 

Governance as a Guiding Compass

Our Franchise model is unique in the early childhood sector. Each centre’s Approved Provider is both the business owner and the legally responsible party for upholding the obligations of the National Quality Framework, including all childcare laws and regulations. This dual role creates a powerful alignment: the person accountable for child safety is also the one recruiting the team.

This governance-driven structure ensures that recruitment is not a delegated task—it’s a leadership responsibility. It’s a process deeply rooted in ethical decision-making, where the Approved Provider is invested not just in operational success, but in the wellbeing of every child and educator.

Advertising with Intention: Starting with the Why

At Mother Duck Childcare, we believe that effective recruitment begins not with what we do or how we do it—but why we do it. Inspired by Simon Sinek’s Start with the Why, our advertising is designed to communicate our deeper purpose: to create environments where children feel safe, nurtured, and empowered to thrive. This clarity of purpose guides every message we share and every person we seek to attract.

We’re not just looking for applicants—we’re calling on individuals who resonate with our values and are drawn to our mission. 

Recruitment as a Reflection of Leadership

Recruitment at Mother Duck is not transactional—it’s transformational. We don’t just assess qualifications; we explore values and character. We ask: Does this person have the courage to speak up when something isn’t right? Do they practice curiosity and seek to understand before they act? Are they willing to act with integrity, even when things are challenging? Are they committed to building a culture of safety for all children?

By embedding these questions into our recruitment process, we ensure that every new hire strengthens our collective commitment to child safety and ethical practice.

Growing Ethical Leaders, One Recruit at a time:

Every educator we welcome into Mother Duck is a potential leader. Not because of their title, but because of how they choose to show up. Our recruitment and advertising processes are designed to find those individuals—those who lead from within, who uphold our values, and who help us build environments where children feel safe, seen, and supported.