Childcare rostering, payroll & HR software
Running a childcare centre means balancing compliance, staff-to-child ratios, and award rules—while keeping admin simple and costs under control. RosterElf brings rostering, payroll, time & attendance, and HR together in one platform.
-
Build rosters that meet educator-to-child ratios
-
Track Working With Children Checks and certifications
-
Integrate with Xero and MYOB
Trusted by Australian businesses
From local cafes to national retail chains, thousands of businesses rely on RosterElf for rostering, HR and payroll.
Rostering software for childcare and education
From early learning centres to schools, RosterElf helps Australian childcare and education providers manage their workforce with ratio compliance and qualification tracking.
Everything you need to manage your childcare workforce
Six powerful modules working together to simplify childcare staff rostering, HR, payroll, time tracking, payroll, HR, communication, and analytics.
Childcare rostering
Meet educator-to-child ratios
Build rosters that meet NQF ratio requirements. Schedule qualified educators across rooms based on child bookings.
- Ratio compliance planning
- Room-based scheduling
- Qualification matching
- Programming time
Time & attendance
Track educator hours accurately
GPS clock-ins verify staff are on-site. Digital timesheets capture shift times for accurate payroll and ratio records.
- Centre clock-in
- Break compliance
- Shift verification
- Real-time attendance
Payroll integration
Children's Services Award automated
Connect to Xero or MYOB. Automatic pay rates based on qualifications and penalty rates under the Children's Services Award.
- Award interpretation
- Qualification-based rates
- Penalty automation
- Xero/MYOB sync
HR for childcare
Manage educator credentials
Track ECT qualifications, Working With Children checks, first aid certificates, and mandatory training compliance.
- WWCC tracking
- First aid certification
- ECT qualification records
- Training compliance
Team communication
Connect your educator team
Share updates and programming notes. Instant notifications for roster changes. Coordinate across rooms.
- Room announcements
- Roster notifications
- Shift swap requests
- Team messaging
Childcare analytics
Ratio and labour insights
Track staffing ratios against requirements. Monitor labour costs and booking patterns. Generate compliance reports.
- Ratio compliance reports
- Labour cost analysis
- Booking pattern insights
- Audit-ready reports
Employee rostering for childcare
Ratios and rosters in sync
Build costed rosters with staff-to-child ratio compliance built in. RosterElf's Perfect Match AI aligns educator availability, qualifications, and room requirements automatically.
Create roster templates for recurring patterns, manage shift swaps between qualified educators, and ensure you always have the right coverage to meet regulatory requirements.
Time & attendance for childcare
Digital timesheets made easy
Digital clock-ins via tablet kiosk or GPS-enabled mobile app with optional photo verification. Eliminate manual timesheets and reduce disputes over hours worked.
Payroll-ready timesheets flow directly to Xero or MYOB. RosterElf flags variances between rostered and actual hours so directors can review before approving.
Employee onboarding for childcare
Get educators ready before day one
Digital contracts, policies, and induction forms sent before their first shift. New educators complete paperwork on their phone, reducing admin burden.
Collect tax file declarations, superannuation details, and emergency contacts in one place. Staff arrive ready to work with children, not fill out forms.
Leave management for childcare
Leave requests that respect ratios
Educators request leave through the app, and directors approve with full visibility of ratio impact. No more back-and-forth emails or paper forms.
Approved leave syncs instantly to rosters, preventing coverage gaps. Managers see availability in real time when building schedules.
Mobile apps for childcare teams
Rosters in every educator's pocket
Staff view rosters, receive shift updates, and confirm attendance from their phones. Push notifications reduce no-shows and last-minute surprises.
Shift swap requests between qualified educators happen in-app. Directors approve with one tap, knowing ratio compliance is maintained.
Employee chat for childcare
Keep work chat separate
Secure in-app messaging keeps work communication separate from personal channels. Shift notes and handover information stay organised and accessible.
Message individuals or rooms directly. No more relying on personal group chats for work updates.
Certificates & permits for childcare
Compliance without the paperwork
Centralised credential storage with automated expiry reminders for Working With Children Checks, first aid certificates, and mandatory training. Never miss a renewal.
RosterElf prevents rostering educators with expired credentials. Stay audit-ready with complete digital records for regulatory inspections.
Trusted by childcare centres
Hear from centres that simplified their workforce management with RosterElf
Andrew Nathan
November 13, 2025
"We are extremely happy with Roster Elf, it's a great improvement on the previous system we were using. Sean and all the staff have been fantastic, really know their stuff and make using RosterElf a pleasure."
Monica Van De Laak
October 16, 2025
"Sean was an amazing help, very patient and thorough."
Mary C.
October 13, 2025
"I can see my roster, enter availability, put leave in advance and clock on and off easily."
Partap Singh Thind
December 05, 2025
"Really detailed and helpful. First time user of a rostering software and I was provided with clear and easy to follow instructions with the promise of being available for any further questions or help that I might need in the future. Would definitely recommend"
Sarah Johnson
September 28, 2025
"Very easy to use and navigate. The support team is always quick to respond and helpful with any queries."
David L.
August 15, 2025
"Great tool for managing staff rosters and timesheets. Has made our scheduling much more efficient."
James Mitchell
November 28, 2025
"Excellent rostering software! The drag and drop feature makes creating weekly schedules a breeze. Our team loves the mobile app for checking their shifts."
Emma Richardson
October 22, 2025
"RosterElf has transformed how we manage our hospitality staff. The award interpretation feature alone saves us hours every pay period."
Michael Chen
September 15, 2025
"Finally found a rostering solution that understands Australian workplace requirements. The Fair Work compliance features give us peace of mind."
Rachel K.
August 30, 2025
"The integration with Xero is smooth. Timesheets flow directly into payroll without any manual data entry. Highly recommend for any small business."
Compare your options
Not sure which workforce management platform is right for you? Explore our comparisons and reviews to make an informed decision.
Relevant awards for childcare
Stay compliant with Australian Modern Award pay rates
Common roles in childcare
Download free job description templates for your childcare team
Childcare rostering FAQ
- RosterElf lets you tag staff by qualification level (ECT, diploma, certificate III) and shows coverage for each room. The rostering software helps ensure you maintain NQF ratios and flags gaps before publishing.
- Create room-based rosters for babies, toddlers, and preschool. RosterElf's scheduling tools let you move educators between rooms while maintaining ratio compliance throughout the day.
- Build split shift rosters for OSHC with morning sessions, school hours breaks, and afternoon sessions. RosterElf handles the complex scheduling patterns common in before and after school care.
- Post open shifts and RosterElf notifies qualified available educators instantly. Staff accept through the app, and you approve with one tap using communication tools.
- Yes, manage multiple centres from one dashboard. Float educators between locations, compare staffing costs across centres, and maintain ratio compliance at every site.
- Yes, create and save roster templates for recurring weekly patterns. Apply templates across rooms and adjust for permanent staff leave or changing enrolments, saving hours of admin time each week.
- Perfect Match AI suggests qualified educators based on availability, qualifications, and room requirements. The rostering software automatically balances ECT, diploma, and certificate III staff to maintain NQF ratios.
Compliance resources
Official resources for childcare and education employers in Australia.
Explore similar industries
See how RosterElf helps other businesses like yours
We love our customers
At RosterElf, customer support isn't an add-on — it's part of who we are. Book a demo or chat with our team today — and experience the kind of support that makes RosterElf the most-loved workforce management platform in Australia.
5.0 average rating