Vhire is an Australian AI-powered childcare recruitment platform. We place qualified early childhood educators in permanent, full-time roles across regional NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA and NT.

Which regions does Vhire recruit in?

Vhire operates across all Australian states with a focus on regional areas including regional NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Does Vhire help with childcare recruitment?

Yes. Vhire specialises in childcare recruitment across regional Australia, placing Certificate III educators, Diploma educators, Early Childhood Teachers, Room Leaders and Centre Directors in permanent, full-time roles.

How does Vhire's AI-powered recruitment work?

Vhire uses AI-powered screening to match employer vacancy requirements against a national and international candidate database, delivering pre-screened, interview-ready candidates faster than traditional job advertising.

What is the DAMA visa program for regional employers?

The Designated Area Migration Agreement allows regional Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers with concessions not available through standard visa pathways. Vhire refers eligible employers to trusted registered migration agent partners. Vhire is not a migration agent.

How do I post a childcare vacancy with Vhire?

Brief us on a role at vhire.com.au/employers or email info@vhire.com.au. We'll be in touch to talk through your role.

What does the Worker Retention Payment mean for childcare recruitment?

The Worker Retention Payment adds 10% above award rates for eligible childcare educators from December 2024, rising to 15% from December 2025. Regional centres can now compete with metro on pay. Vhire briefs every candidate on the WRP as standard.

What childcare qualifications does Vhire screen for?

Vhire screens for Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121), Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121), Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and ACECQA-assessed equivalent international qualifications.

What is Vhire's placement guarantee?

Vhire conducts post-placement check-ins at day 7, day 30 and day 90. If a placed educator leaves within the guarantee period, Vhire initiates a replacement search at no additional placement fee.

Recruiting Educators in Regional Victoria: Childcare Staffing, DAMA and How Vhire Helps

Nov 21, 2025

5 min read

Updated: Oct 16

Recruiting Educators in Regional Victoria: Bridging the Gap with Vhire

Recruiting educators in regional Victoria comes with its own challenges. Centre directors often struggle to find qualified Certificate III and Diploma educators, Early Childhood Teachers and Room Leaders, while educators may not know which regional centres are hiring. In some parts of Victoria, Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) may offer a pathway for sponsoring overseas workers, but coverage and eligibility vary and change. Vhire, an early childhood recruitment service, connects regional Victorian centres with qualified educators and refers centres to registered migration agent partners for any visa questions.

This post looks at regional Victorian areas where childcare centres face staffing pressure, explains how Vhire supports centres there, and outlines the benefits for both centres and educators.

Understanding DAMA in Victoria

A Designated Area Migration Agreement is an arrangement between the Australian Government and a particular region that can allow employers there to sponsor overseas workers in occupations that are hard to fill locally. Whether a Victorian agreement covers your centre’s town, and whether early childhood roles are included, depends on the current agreement. A registered migration agent can confirm this.

Childcare centres across regional Victoria share similar staffing pressures, though each area has its own character:

Gippsland

With towns spread across a large area, centres in Gippsland can find it hard to attract qualified educators from outside the region.

Hume

Growing towns in the Hume region mean steady demand for long day care and kindergarten places, and for educators to staff them.

Loddon Campaspe

Centres in Loddon Campaspe compete with larger regional cities for Diploma educators and Early Childhood Teachers.

Barwon South West

Covering coastal and inland towns, this region’s centres often need educators willing to relocate to smaller communities.

Grampians

Smaller towns in the Grampians can struggle to fill Centre Director, Educational Leader and Early Childhood Teacher positions.

Each DAMA sets out its own area and occupation list. Check with a registered migration agent whether any current agreement applies to your centre.

How Vhire Supports Childcare Centres in Regional Victoria

Centres in regional Victoria often face small local candidate pools, roles that stay open for a long time and uncertainty about overseas hiring. Vhire’s process is designed to make recruitment clearer and more manageable.

Wide Candidate Sourcing

Vhire finds candidates through its own network and the major job boards, including educators already in Victoria and qualified educators overseas who want to move to a regional town.

AI-Powered Screening and Matching

Vhire uses AI-powered screening and matching to compare candidates against your role, considering qualifications, experience and willingness to live in your town. This reduces time spent on unsuitable applications.

Referrals to Migration Agent Partners

Vhire does not give visa or immigration advice. Where a centre is considering an overseas candidate, Vhire connects the centre with registered migration agent partners who can advise on sponsorship and visa steps.

Interviews and Checks

Every candidate is interviewed, and qualifications, Working With Children Check, National Police Check and First Aid are checked before they reach your shortlist.

Shortlists and Scorecards

Centres receive a shortlist of 3–5 candidates, each with a profile summary, an interview scorecard and check status. Vhire then completes two reference checks on your preferred candidate.

Eye-level view of a rural Victorian town with agricultural fields and small businesses

Image caption: A regional town in Victoria, where local childcare centres support families and the wider community.

Benefits for Centres in Regional Victoria

Centres in regional Victoria gain several advantages by working with Vhire:

Access to Qualified Educators

Vhire widens your reach beyond local applicants to educators across Australia and overseas.

Pay Only When You Hire

There is no upfront fee. You are invoiced on the educator’s start date, with a 14-day payment term.

Clear Advice Pathways

Visa and sponsorship questions are referred to registered migration agent partners, so you get advice from qualified professionals.

Less Admin

Sourcing, screening, interviews and checks are handled for you, so your team can stay focused on children and families.

Improved Retention

Vhire only puts forward educators genuinely willing to live and work in your town, and checks in at day 7, day 30 and day 90 after they start.

For example, a centre in the Grampians needing an Early Childhood Teacher could receive a shortlist of interviewed candidates, choose a preferred educator after reference checks, and speak with a registered migration agent partner if that educator is overseas.

Benefits for Educators Considering Regional Victoria

Educators also benefit from working with Vhire:

Clear Information About Roles

Educators learn about the centre, the room, the town and the role before deciding to apply.

Access to Regional Opportunities

Vhire lists permanent, full-time positions in regional Victorian centres, helping educators find roles that suit their qualifications.

A Simple Application Process

Educators can register and apply through www.vhire.com.au/jobseekers, and the service is free for candidates.

Support for Overseas Educators

Overseas educators can be introduced to centres open to overseas candidates. Visa questions should go to a registered migration agent.

Career Growth

Regional centres often offer pathways into Room Leader, Educational Leader and Director roles.

For instance, a Diploma-qualified educator overseas who wants to settle in the Barwon South West could register with Vhire, interview for a suitable centre, and seek advice from a registered migration agent about any visa steps.

How Vhire Bridges the Gap Between Centres and Educators

Vhire combines AI-powered matching with a focus on early childhood education and regional communities. It understands what regional Victorian centres need and shapes its service around them.

Childcare-Only Focus

Vhire works only in early childhood education and care, so every role and candidate is relevant to your centre.

Plain-English Resources

Vhire shares general information for centres and educators, and refers all visa questions to registered migration agent partners.

Community Focus

Vhire encourages centres to highlight their town, lifestyle and community welcome to attract educators interested in relocating.

Ongoing Check-ins

Check-ins at day 7, day 30 and day 90 help new educators settle in, and an eligible placement that ends within three months is replaced in line with Vhire’s placement terms.

Practical Tips for Centres in Regional Victoria

To get the most from Vhire, centres should:

Clearly define the role, room, qualifications and responsibilities.
Review the shortlist and interview scorecards carefully before choosing a preferred candidate.
Keep in touch with candidates throughout the process to build trust.
Speak with a registered migration agent before considering any overseas candidate.
Highlight your town’s lifestyle and community in your position description.

Practical Tips for Educators Considering Regional Victoria

Educators can improve their chances by:

Creating a detailed profile that highlights qualifications, experience and age-group strengths.
Researching regional Victorian towns where they would genuinely like to live.
Seeking advice from a registered migration agent about any visa questions.
Replying promptly to centre and recruiter messages.
Considering relocation support and the community welcome offered by regional centres.

Conclusion: Building Strong Childcare Teams in Regional Victoria

Recruiting in regional Victoria needs a focused approach that reflects local staffing pressures and the realities of overseas hiring. Vhire helps by finding, screening and shortlisting qualified educators, and by referring visa questions to registered migration agent partners.

Working together, centres and educators can close the gap between vacancies and qualified people in regional Victoria.

Whether you run a centre needing a permanent, full-time educator or you’re an educator looking for your next role, visit www.vhire.com.au/employers or www.vhire.com.au/jobseekers.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Vhire is a recruitment service, not a registered migration agent. This article is general information only and is not immigration or visa advice. DAMA occupation lists and eligibility vary by agreement and change over time. For advice about your situation, please consult a registered migration agent. Contact us to be connected with one of our registered migration agent partners.