Geelong vs Shepparton vs Ballarat: Where Should You Focus Recruitment Efforts in 2025?

Victoria's three largest regional cities — Geelong, Shepparton and Ballarat — each present a distinct childcare recruitment landscape in 2025. Understanding the differences shapes which sourcing strategies to prioritise in each market.

GEELONG: RAPID GROWTH, INTENSIFYING COMPETITION

Geelong is experiencing Victoria's fastest regional population growth, driven by decentralisation from Melbourne and the development of Lara, Armstrong Creek and surrounding corridors. Demand for childcare places is growing rapidly and new centres are opening to meet it.

The result for recruiters: heightened competition for a candidate pool that is growing but not fast enough. Geelong centres are competing against each other, against Melbourne outer suburbs and against the lure of Surf Coast lifestyle positions.

Best strategies for Geelong: differentiated job advertising highlighting centre culture and specific lifestyle benefits, active LinkedIn outreach to Melbourne outer suburbs educators, competitive Worker Retention Payment communication.

SHEPPARTON: DAMA ADVANTAGE, ACUTE LOCAL SHORTAGE

Shepparton has the most acute shortage relative to demand of Victoria's three major regional cities. The Goulburn Valley DAMA gives Shepparton employers a significant advantage — the ability to sponsor international educators — that Geelong and Ballarat employers don't have.

Centres in Shepparton that are not using the DAMA are leaving a significant recruitment tool on the table. The local candidate pool is insufficient and national sourcing alone won't bridge the gap in the medium term.

Best strategies for Shepparton: DAMA assessment and international candidate pipeline, active national sourcing targeting relocation-motivated educators, Worker Retention Payment communication, relocation support package.

BALLARAT: LIFESTYLE CONVERSION, BEST START BEST LIFE DEMAND

Ballarat is large enough to have an internal candidate market, but still experiences ECT and Room Leader shortages driven by the Best Start, Best Life expansion demand. The city's quality of life — culture, heritage, affordability, accessibility — makes it one of the most compelling lifestyle conversion stories in Victoria.

Best strategies for Ballarat: Melbourne lifestyle conversion messaging targeting educators in inner-west and western suburbs, ECT national sourcing for kindy expansion roles, genuine career progression storytelling.

HOW VHIRE OPERATES ACROSS ALL THREE MARKETS

Vhire has dedicated sourcing approaches tailored to each Victorian regional city's specific candidate market. We don't use a one-size-fits-all strategy — we match the sourcing approach to the market reality.

Contact Vhire at info@vhire.com.au or visit vhire.com.au/hire-staff.