Since 1981, our organisation has grown alongside the families of the Illawarra, first as Illawarra Children’s Services, then as Big Fat Smile. Each name reflects a moment in time, shaped by the communities we served and the children in our care.

We are changing our name from Big Fat Smile to BFS Children’s Services to better reflect who we are, what we do, and the breadth of services we provide across early learning and school‑aged care.

We are a trusted provider of Birth to Five and School‑aged care, with deep expertise across early learning and outside of school hours care.

We know the name Big Fat Smile holds meaning for many people. It’s been part of family memories, first days, friendships and milestones for generations of children.

This change comes after careful reflection and meaningful consultation. As an organisation led by professionals, we sought feedback from our employees and stakeholders, and we listened closely.

What we heard was clear, our name needed to better reflect the full breadth of our services and the leadership role we play in childhood education and care. The language we previously used no longer felt contemporary or true to the organisation we have become.

BFS now stands for Birth to Five and School‑aged Children’s Services, a name that confidently captures our purpose, our expertise, and our ongoing commitment to children and families.

BFS Children’s Services allows us to honour where we’ve come from, while confidently stepping into a clearer, more professional identity that supports the work we do now and into the future.

Some service names are changing to better align with sector language and make things clearer for families and partners.

• BFS will now be included at the beginning of all services
• Long Day Care services, also commonly known as Community Preschools, will now be known as Early Learning services.
• Term-only preschools will continue to operate as Community Preschools, with the BFS included.
• We are moving away from the name Fun Clubs which will now be known as OOSH (Outside of School Hours)

Early Childhood Education and Care is undergoing significant change, reflecting a growing recognition of its foundational role in children’s development, family wellbeing, and long‑term social and economic outcomes. Across the sector, there is a shift toward greater accessibility, affordability, and inclusion, alongside stronger expectations around quality and accountability. 

Over the past year legislative reforms significantly strengthen ECEC framework, with a clear and consistent focus on child safety, accountability, and professional conduct. Changes by commonwealth and state governments have been made to reinforce child safety on the back of the appalling incidents of child abuse in ECEC. One of the main points is a Paramountcy rule – this is where children must be central to all decision‑making.  In addition, higher penalties for non‑compliance, establishment a new offence for inappropriate conduct, setting clearer expectations around professional boundaries and behaviour. 

Reforms also increase transparency, requiring services to publicly display compliance histories and enabling regulators to publish information about high‑risk services and suspend or revoke quality ratings during investigations.  

Additional measures including the ban on personal digital devices in learning environments (with limited medical exemptions), mandatory child protection training, enhanced whistleblower protections, bans on vaping, and updated rules on the use of children’s images aim to collectively strengthen safeguards for children while reinforcing trust, professionalism, and accountability across the sector. 

Our appointed bargaining representative, Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), attended a further meeting with the Department of Education before the Fair Work Commission in April. The purpose of this meeting was for the Department to report on progress in the Government’s review of Start Strong funding, undertaken in response to the Fair Work Commission’s recommendation. 

The meeting confirmed that progress has been made in the review, and that recommendations will be provided to Government ahead of the June NSW State Government Budget. This represents a positive and important step forward. 

In addition, CELA sought the Commission’s assistance to ensure the review process includes genuine consultation and transparency, so that any recommendations put to Government support the ability to reach a meaningful agreement. 

It is encouraging to see a shift from Government towards working collaboratively with the sector to resolve the agreement. CELA will continue to work closely with the Department on behalf of BFS Children’s Services throughout this process to help achieve a positive outcome that supports our professional staff, as well as the viability and quality of early childhood services. 

High-quality early childhood education and care begins with us. Every dedicated teacher and educator makes an impact on every child by creating a safe, nurturing environment where they feel secure, valued, and confident to learn. Educators build strong, trusting relationships with children and families, noticing the small moments, responding with warmth, and supporting each child in their independence. These everyday interactions are the foundation of quality. 

Quality is also driven by professionalism and intentional practice. Our educators continually build their knowledge and skills through ongoing professional learning, including evidence-based approaches such as Circle of Security. This training shapes how our teams are responding to children’s emotions, supporting self-regulation and building secure attachments. Importantly, this learning is not theoretical, it is embedded into daily practice, informing how educators guide behaviour, support wellbeing, and foster resilience. 

High-quality ECEC matters because it directly influences learning, development, wellbeing, and long-term outcomes. When skilled educators work within supportive teams that value reflection, connection, and collaboration, children thrive in inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and promote a sense of belonging. 

At its core, quality is about people; educators who care deeply, keep learning, and show up every day with compassion, professionalism, and a commitment to giving children the very best start. 

At the heart of a high‑quality ECEC system is a skilled, valued, and supported workforce. Educators and leaders play a critical role in shaping children’s learning, wellbeing, and sense of belonging, and meaningful reform must place your needs at the centre. 

Big Fat Smile is supporting the ECEC workforce by: 

• Strengthening attraction and retention, recognising the need to address long‑standing workforce challenges such as pay equity, career pathways, and professional recognition. 

• Investing in professional learning and development, ensuring educators have access to high‑quality, ongoing training that reflects best practice and contemporary understanding of early learning and development. 

• Supporting wellbeing and sustainability, acknowledging the emotional and relational demands of ECEC work and promoting positive workplace cultures, leadership capability, and manageable workloads. 

• Valuing professionalism, reinforcing the expertise, qualifications, and ethical responsibility of early childhood educators as key contributors to children’s lifelong learning trajectories. 

By strengthening workforce capability and conditions, we build not only a more resilient sector, but also better outcomes for children and families. 

Our current Child Care Management System (CCMS), Kangarootime, is being decommissioned. As a result, we have made the considered business decision to transition to Xap, aligning this change with our broader rebrand. 

We recognise that moving to a new system brings a period of adjustment. To support our teams, the transition has been scheduled for July and will include a dedicated change period with clear communication, information sessions, hands‑on learning opportunities, and targeted technology training. 

While Xap will feel familiar in many ways, it represents a significant upgrade for the organisation. We are genuinely excited about the opportunities it brings—improving efficiency, providing access to richer and more timely information, and strengthening how we support our teams now and into the future. 

We look forward to welcoming you back when the time if right for you and your family.