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Talisha Long leading a strategy meeting at Childcare Consultants Australia National childcare advisory

Childcare Consultants Australia

Australia's leading childcare development, approvals and operations advisor, expert, end-to-end guidance for providers, developers and investors, from concept through provider approval, opening and beyond.

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Over 30 yearsin early childhood education & care
30+ servicesopened across Australia
Former COOUna Education
The end-to-end advisor

One advisor, the entire childcare lifecycle

Most consultants know a few areas. Talisha is the advisor that providers, developers, investors, government bodies and international operators engage for end-to-end feasibility, approvals and delivery across the whole journey, from raw land to a thriving, compliant operation. Almost no one in Australia can credibly claim that span: more than 30 years from the floor to the boardroom, having worked every level from Assistant Educator to Chief Operating Officer.

  1. 01 Site & feasibility
  2. 02 Development application
  3. 03 Design & approvals
  4. 04 Provider approval
  5. 05 Service approval
  6. 06 Recruitment & opening
  7. 07 Operations & quality
  8. 08 Growth & acquisition

From the floor to the boardroom, she has worked every level, from Assistant Educator to Chief Operating Officer.

Very few people in Australia can genuinely demonstrate experience across that entire continuum.

What we do

End-to-end childcare consulting

From the first feasibility check to a fully optimised, compliant service: support at every stage of the journey.

Talisha Long reviewing childcare centre development plans with clients in a boardroom

Practical Centre Development

From planning permits to centre design and layout consulting.

Learn more → Talisha Long guiding a childcare service through a regulatory assessment and rating visit

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

Ensure full compliance and a smooth approval process.

Learn more → Talisha Long briefing a childcare operations team at an administrative hub

Operational Setup

Build your team, set policies, and implement effective procedures.

Learn more → Talisha Long advising clients on a childcare centre acquisition, reviewing due diligence reports and valuations

Business Acquisition & Expansion

Buy, grow, or optimise your portfolio with confidence.

Learn more → Talisha Long preparing a childcare centre audit and performance report

Performance Audits & Optimisation

Increase occupancy, revenue, and ratings.

Learn more → Talisha Long delivering an early childhood professional development session to educators online

Ongoing Staff Education & Development

Train, develop and retain a high-performing team, from educators to leaders.

Learn more →
Who we work with

Specialist support, whoever you are

From property developers to first-time operators and established groups: guidance tailored to where you're starting from.

Property Developers

Planning or approving a childcare centre as part of a development.

How we help →

First-Time Operators

Opening your first centre and want it done right.

How we help →

Investors

Evaluating a centre or portfolio as an investment.

How we help →

Existing Operators

Lifting occupancy, revenue and quality rating.

How we help →
Coming soon

Leadership & Mentoring Membership

Ongoing, one-on-one access to Talisha. Subscribe monthly for a dedicated allocation of mentoring, leadership and problem-solving time, booked straight into her calendar with your own private link, at a member rate. Places are limited.

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Talisha Long, Founder & CEO of Childcare Consultants Australia About

Meet Talisha Long

Early Childhood Executive · Strategic Advisor · Childcare Development Specialist

Talisha Long is an Early Childhood Executive, Strategic Advisor and Childcare Development Specialist with more than 30 years of experience across Australia’s early childhood education and care sector. Beginning her career as an Assistant Educator, she has progressed through every stage of the profession: Lead Educator, Educational Leader, Nominated Supervisor, Centre Manager, Area Manager, Operations Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and now Founder and CEO of Childcare Consultants Australia.

As former Chief Operating Officer of Una Education, Talisha led large-scale operations, compliance, governance, workforce strategy and organisational growth across multiple services and jurisdictions, growing the group from one service to nine. She has been directly involved in the establishment and opening of more than 30 childcare services across Australia, and has supported hundreds more through governance, compliance, approvals, quality improvement, development and strategic advisory.

Her expertise spans the entire childcare lifecycle: site selection, feasibility, development applications, provider and service approvals, governance, compliance and assessment & rating, acquisitions and due diligence, government funding, workforce strategy, international market entry and executive advisory. Today she works with approved providers, developers, investors, government stakeholders and international operators seeking high-quality operational, regulatory, strategic and commercial outcomes.

Known for her attention to detail, strategic thinking and practical, hands-on approach, Talisha’s focus remains constant: creating high-quality, sustainable education and care services that deliver exceptional outcomes for children, families, educators and communities.

More about Talisha Work with Talisha
Compliance-led, confidence-driven

Navigate the red tape with clarity

In an industry where regulations evolve and compliance is critical, we bring deep expertise to ensure your childcare centre meets every standard and exceeds expectations. With a strong understanding of national quality frameworks, licensing requirements, and audit readiness, we help you navigate the red tape with clarity and confidence. From initial documentation to regulatory inspections, our support is meticulous, strategic, and always tailored to your centre's needs.

Selected work

Case studies

A snapshot of recent engagements, with details de-identified to protect client confidentiality.

International market entry

Bringing an international operator into the Australian market

Situation. An established overseas early childhood group, a multi-centre operator running 20+ services across New Zealand, wanted to expand into Australia but had limited understanding of the regulatory framework, provider approval requirements and operational differences between jurisdictions.

What we did. Engaged as Australian Strategic Advisor: provider approval and governance structuring, regulatory readiness, jurisdictional and growth-corridor analysis, development and acquisition pathways, and ongoing executive advisory.

Result. A clear, de-risked pathway into the Australian market: confident progression, with a structured plan for long-term, multi-site growth.

Workplace childcare

Workplace childcare to support workforce participation

Situation. A large Australian employer was struggling to attract and retain staff (particularly women returning to work) due to limited local childcare, and wanted to explore an on-site service.

What we did. Childcare feasibility assessment, workforce demand analysis, regulatory advice, development planning, service-model recommendations and long-term sustainability planning.

Result. A clear pathway to a viable workplace childcare service that supports staff retention and workforce participation, while helping address a genuine community childcare shortage.

Quality turnaround

Turning around governance and quality after a transition

Situation. A service previously rated Working Towards the National Quality Standard needed significant governance strengthening and quality improvement after a change of ownership.

What we did. Ongoing operational oversight: governance reviews, compliance monitoring, leadership mentoring, Quality Improvement Planning, workforce capability development and assessment & rating readiness.

Result. Stronger governance, improved operational consistency and a structured quality framework focused on better outcomes for children, families and educators.

Common questions

Opening or improving a childcare centre

How much does it cost to open a childcare centre in Australia?

Costs vary widely by location, building size and whether you lease or build, but a new long day care centre typically requires significant capital for fit-out, compliance and pre-opening operating costs. The biggest variables are property, regulatory requirements and licensed places. A feasibility assessment is the first step. We help you build a realistic budget before you commit.

What approvals do I need to operate a childcare centre?

Long day care services in Australia generally require local council development approval for the premises, a Provider Approval and a Service Approval under the National Law, plus compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF). The exact pathway depends on your state or territory regulator. We manage these approvals end to end.

How long does it take to open a new childcare centre?

From site selection to opening typically takes many months and depends heavily on development approval timeframes and the licensing pathway in your state. Starting with the right feasibility and approvals strategy is the single biggest factor in opening on time.

Do you help with buying an existing childcare centre?

Yes. We provide due diligence on acquisitions, reviewing compliance history, occupancy, financials and operational systems, so you understand exactly what you are buying and can plan improvements from settlement.

What is the National Quality Framework (NQF)?

The National Quality Framework is the national system that sets standards for early childhood education and care in Australia, including the National Quality Standard (NQS) against which services are assessed and rated. Achieving and maintaining a strong rating is central to occupancy and reputation, and is a core part of our consulting work.

Which areas of Australia do you work in?

We work with childcare providers across Australia. Talisha Long is based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and consults nationally on centre development, licensing, operations and performance.

Talisha Long in an early learning room
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Whether you're at concept stage or optimising an established service, book a no-obligation consultation with Talisha.

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Tell us about your project and Talisha will be in touch. No obligation.

We typically respond within 1 business day. No obligation, just a conversation about your project.