G8 Education-backed Kiddo launches job posting platform to tackle childcare staffing challenges

Called Kiddo for Childcare, the service is an extension of the Kiddo app, which has amassed more than 30,000 users and 12,000-plus carers since it was launched in 2019 by entrepreneur Rebecca Dredge.

The latest rollout allows providers to post job advertisements for educators, assistants, centre managers and more, with the roles advertised to the thousands of carers already on Kiddo.

Potential employers can see each candidate’s profile image, qualifications, and ratings from previous babysitting, nannying and NDIS care services they have provided. While posting each job ad costs $200, companies are only charged if candidates apply for the gig.

Dredge said she designed the service as a solution to empower the industry and bridge the gap in qualified staff.

“Kiddo hopes to revolutionise recruitment for the childcare industry, providing a seamless platform where qualified Kiddo carers are just a click away,” she said.

“No more endless hours of searching for staff— finding the perfect candidates could be one click away. With this innovative tool, the industry can unlock a new world of opportunities to help build an exceptional team of dedicated professionals.

"In addition to aiding centres in discovering and hiring skilled professionals, it serves as an excellent resource for Kiddo's network of carers, empowering them to boost their earnings by providing them a platform to find babysitting and NDIS jobs but also now connecting them with jobs in early learning centres.”

Last month, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) released new survey data that revealed early learning childcare centres throughout Australia are struggling with severe workforce shortages, leaving them with no choice but to cap enrolments.

Across a single week in February 2023, more than two-thirds of the 627 centres surveyed confirmed enrolments that week had been capped, which equated to a total of 16,300 places cut off from Australian families.

Three months later, a second survey of 442 centres showed that more than half had been forced to cap enrolments due to the ongoing workforce shortages. On Seek (ASX: SEK) alone, there are currently about 15,400 vacant positions in the childcare sector.

“Kiddo was driven by the vision of leveraging our incredible network of registered babysitters and carers to provide the early childhood education and care sector with the supportive community they truly deserve,” Dredge said.

The news of the startup’s expansion comes more than a year since childcare giant G8 Education purchased a 20 per cent stake in Kiddo for an undisclosed sum.

At the time of the deal, G8 Education owned more than 470 childcare centres across Australia. Its backing helped Kiddo scale up in Queensland, Victoria and NSW, in addition to spearheading the app’s roll-out in other states and territories.

Today, the vast majority (87 per cent) of carers on the Kiddo platform are based in Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne.

“As a large early learning provider dedicated to quality education and care, we are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to engage with and attract talented and dedicated team members to our centres,” G8 Education chief people and transformation officer Tabitha Pearson said.

“By partnering with Kiddo, we look to connect with candidates in a meaningful and targeted way, by showcasing our broad range of career opportunities ranging from traineeships through to bachelor qualified teachers and beyond.

“We are excited to see how this relationship can benefit G8, our children, families and teams.”