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.

Streamlining DAMA Hiring for Childcare Centres: Who Does What

Mar 16

5 min read

Updated: Oct 16

Recruiting qualified educators is a real challenge for many regional childcare centres in Australia. Local candidates can be hard to find, and overseas recruitment can feel overwhelming. In some regions, a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) may be one pathway centres explore with a registered migration agent. Understanding who does what makes the whole hiring process clearer and easier to manage.

This post explains how childcare recruitment and the DAMA process can work side by side, why it matters for regional centres, and practical steps to get organised. Whether you’re a centre director looking to hire or an educator exploring regional roles, it gives you a clear picture of the process.

What Is DAMA, in Plain Terms?

DAMA stands for Designated Area Migration Agreement. It is an arrangement between the Australian Government and particular regions, designed to help employers in those regions sponsor overseas workers when local candidates are scarce.

Some general points for childcare centres:

Each Agreement Is Different: Every DAMA region has its own occupation list and eligibility settings, and early childhood roles may or may not be included.
Rules Change Over Time: Agreements are reviewed and updated, so information you read online may be out of date.
Advice Comes From a Migration Agent: A registered migration agent can tell you whether your centre and the role are eligible under the current agreement.

Vhire is not a migration agent and does not give visa advice. We connect centres with registered migration agent partners who can.

Why Organised Hiring Matters for Regional Centres

Regional childcare centres often face particular challenges:

Small local pools of qualified educators
Scarce Early Childhood Teachers and Diploma educators
Pressure to meet NQF ratios and keep rooms open

A well-organised approach to overseas hiring helps by:

Widening Your Reach: Centres can consider qualified educators from overseas for positions that are hard to fill locally.
Separating the Steps: Recruitment and migration are handled by the right specialists, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Supporting Your Community: Filling educator positions helps keep places available for local families.

For example, a regional centre unable to find a local Early Childhood Teacher might ask a registered migration agent whether DAMA is an option, while a recruitment partner finds and screens suitable candidates. Each specialist focuses on their part.

Early childhood educators with children in a regional childcare centre — Regional Australia

How Overseas Educators Find Centres

For educators overseas, finding the right centre is a key step. Sponsorship involves an employer who agrees to support an application, and the details depend on the pathway. Here’s how educators can approach the search:

Get Proper Advice: Speak with a registered migration agent about which pathways and regions may suit you. DAMA coverage varies and changes, so check the current agreements.
Research Regional Centres: Look for long day care, kindergarten and OSHC services in regional towns that interest you.
Register With a Recruiter: Registering with a childcare recruitment partner can connect you with regional centres looking for qualified educators. It’s free for educators.
Check Your Qualifications: Find out whether your qualification is recognised by ACECQA for the role you want.
Apply Directly: Reach out to centres with a tailored resume explaining your qualifications, experience and interest in the town.

Sponsoring employers have obligations of their own, which a registered migration agent can explain. Being clear and honest with each other from the start helps both the centre and the educator.

The Role of a Childcare Recruitment Partner

Overseas hiring involves several moving parts. That’s why a clear division of roles helps. A childcare recruitment partner acts as a bridge between centres and qualified educators.

Here’s what Vhire does:

Match Educators to Roles: Understands what regional centres need and matches candidates to the role, room and community.
Screen and Check: Interviews every candidate and checks qualifications, WWCC, National Police Check and First Aid.
Share Local Insights: Only puts forward educators who are genuinely willing to live and work in your centre’s town.
Refer Visa Questions: Connects centres with registered migration agent partners for any sponsorship or visa steps, and gives no visa advice itself.

For example, if your centre needs a Diploma educator for a toddler room, Vhire can source and screen candidates and provide a shortlist of 3–5 educators, while a registered migration agent partner handles any migration questions.

Close-up view of a recruitment consultant reviewing job applications — Reviewing educator applications

Practical Tips for Centres Considering DAMA

If your centre is thinking about DAMA as one option, here are some practical steps to get organised:

Check the Current Agreement
Each region has different occupation lists and settings, and these change. Ask a registered migration agent whether your centre and role are covered.
Plan Your Workforce Needs
Identify which educator positions are hardest to fill locally and how overseas hiring fits alongside local recruitment.
Partner With the Right Specialists
Use a childcare recruitment partner for sourcing and screening, and a registered migration agent for visa and sponsorship advice.
Prepare Your Centre
Get your position descriptions, induction materials and team ready so a new educator can settle in well.
Communicate Clearly With Candidates
Be transparent about the role, the room, your centre’s philosophy and life in your town to attract the right educators.
Support New Educators
Help overseas educators settle in with an induction, a buddy and community connections.

Following these steps helps your centre approach overseas hiring in an organised, well-supported way.

Why an Organised Approach Pays Off

Taking an organised approach to overseas hiring is about more than filling vacancies. It helps build a stable future for your centre and community.

Access to Qualified Educators: You’re not limited to local applicants, which opens doors to diverse skills and experience.
Steadier Operations: Filling key positions helps you meet ratios and keep rooms open.
Community Growth: New educators and their families become part of local schools, clubs and services.
Long-Term Stability: Educators who feel welcomed and supported are more likely to stay with your centre for the long term.

Centres that plan carefully and use the right specialists are better placed to attract motivated educators who want to grow with their service.

If you’re ready to explore overseas hiring, talk to Vhire at www.vhire.com.au/employers. We find and screen educators for permanent, full-time roles, you only pay when you hire, and we connect you with registered migration agent partners for any visa questions.

An organised hiring process helps regional centres build strong teams. Take the first step today by contacting info@vhire.com.au.

⚠️ 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.