Developments
From concept to opening day.
ELM partners with developers and investors across Australia, bringing 30 years of operational experience to every childcare development. Every decision is made by people who actually run centres.
0+
Centres opened and supported
30+
Years in the sector
8
States & territories
Childcare development has moving parts most developers do not see coming.
Licensing, staffing ratios, DA quirks, CCS compliance before a single child enrols. ELM has managed this process across 75+ services nationally. We sit alongside your team from the first question so the parts you did not know about do not become the parts that cost you.
Talk to ELM about your development
What ELM covers
Every step, covered.
ELM handles every layer of the development process so you are not stitching together advisors, consultants and operators separately.
Site Feasibility
Demographic analysis, competitor mapping and revenue modelling before a dollar is committed.
Development Planning
DA support, regulatory coordination and authority approvals managed alongside your builder.
Design Review
Room ratios, licensing requirements and operational flow assessed before construction begins.
Licensing and Approvals
Service approval and regulatory submissions managed from start to finish.
Staffing and HR
Recruitment to ratio, induction, training and ongoing human resources management.
Systems and Compliance
Software implementation, policies, procedures and CCS compliance setup before opening.
Enrolment and Marketing
Enquiry pipeline, waitlist management and enrolment conversion before and after opening day.
Ongoing Management
Full operational management post-opening, the natural next step with no new partner to onboard.
The development journey
Four phases. One partner throughout.
From the first conversation about a site through to a centre running at full capacity, ELM is alongside you at every stage. No handoffs. No starting over with a new team. One partner who knows the history and stays for the long term.
Phase 01 of 04
Discovery
Know before you commit a dollar.
Before anything else, ELM runs a full assessment of the opportunity through our Discovery Packages. Demographics, competitor landscape, site viability, building plan review, and financial modelling, all applied directly to your site. You receive a straight answer on whether to proceed, not one built to sell you on moving forward. Discovery typically takes one to two weeks.
Most development problems are visible at this stage. The ones who find out later are the ones who skipped it.
What ELM delivers
- Demographic catchment and demand analysis
- Competitor mapping and gap assessment
- Site viability indicators and risk flags
- Building plan review for operational compliance
- Feasibility forecast with occupancy and P&L modelling
- Written report and debrief with ELM
Typical duration
1–2 weeks
The ELM difference
Other consultants advise.
ELM operates.
Most childcare development consultants are advisors, people who have worked in the sector and can offer guidance. ELM is different: we directly manage childcare services across Australia. When we design your development, we are doing it as the people who will have to operate it. That changes every decision.
On room ratios
Other consultants
An advisor tells you what the regulations require.
ELM
ELM tells you what actually works in practice, then staffs and manages those rooms.
On staffing
Other consultants
An advisor recommends a staffing model on paper.
ELM
ELM recruits, trains and manages your staff from day one.
On opening
Other consultants
An advisor hands over at opening day.
ELM
ELM can stay for the full lifecycle as your ongoing management partner.
75+
Centres opened and supported
30+
Years in the sector
100%
Early learning focused
8
States & territories
Common questions
What developers and investors ask before they start.
These are the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, the fastest way to get an answer is to talk to us directly.
Ask us directlyStart the conversation
Where are you in the process?
Whether you have a site locked in or just a concept, the most valuable step right now is getting in touch. We'll tell you exactly where you stand.