A lot of returning-to-work advice zeroes in on your child's transition, and it's true, that matters. But your own transition back into work deserves just as much thought and preparation. Getting yourself ready, emotionally and practically, sets your whole family up for a smoother return.
Acknowledging how you feel about going back
It's completely normal to feel several things at once about returning to work: keen to get back into it, and sad to leave the slower pace of leave behind. Raising Children Network(opens in new tab) points out that this is a genuine adjustment for most parents, and that talking with others who've recently returned to work can help you feel less alone in it.
Preparing early makes a real difference
Book trial days at your centre
A settling-in session or two before your official start date helps your child build familiarity with their room and educators, and gives you a clear picture of how the day runs. Our settling-in page explains how we structure this, and our educators can tailor the schedule to your child's needs and your return-to-work timeline.
Plan ahead for feeding
If breastfeeding or expressing is part of your routine, sorting the logistics out before day one, with both your employer and your child's educators, avoids unnecessary stress. Raising Children Network(opens in new tab) has clear guidance on what to organise with your workplace to keep breastfeeding going once you're back at work.
Loop your educators in
Sharing your child's routines, comfort items, sleep patterns and feeding times before your return date helps educators keep their day as familiar as possible. Our family handbook outlines what's genuinely useful to pass on, and a quick chat with your child's room leader goes a long way.
Check your Child Care Subsidy entitlements
From January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee means CCS-eligible families get at least three subsidised days each week(opens in new tab), regardless of work hours, replacing the old activity-test approach. If you haven't checked your entitlements since your leave began, it's worth doing now. Our Child Care Subsidy page can help.
Ask your employer about flexibility
You may be entitled to formally request flexible working arrangements, a phased return, adjusted hours, or different start and finish times. Fair Work Ombudsman(opens in new tab) explains how to put this request in writing and what your employer needs to consider. Raising it before your return date gives everyone time to plan.
What to expect in the first few weeks
Give the adjustment period some room to breathe. Drop-offs might be harder for a stretch, and your child may be more tired or unsettled at home as their routine shifts. This usually eases within a couple of weeks. Consistent daily rhythms, the same routines your child follows as part of our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, help provide the stability children need while everything else at home is changing too.
Building structure into your family's new routine
Children tend to respond well to predictability, and that goes for the return-to-work period too. Setting a consistent wake-up time, drop-off routine and evening wind-down before your first day back, rather than working it out on the fly, gives your child (and you) a clear structure to lean on. Even small, repeatable habits, the same goodbye phrase at drop-off, the same song in the car, help signal to your child what's coming next and make the transition feel more predictable rather than uncertain.
It's worth extending that same structure to your own morning. Laying out clothes, packing bags and prepping breakfast the night before removes decision fatigue from an already busy morning, and means you're not starting your work day already feeling behind.
If your child is due to start school in the next couple of years, this is also a good moment to think ahead. The routines you build now, structured mornings, consistent drop-offs, clear communication with educators, are the same habits that support a confident transition into school later on.
Your educators are part of your support team
If anything about feeding, settling or drop-off is on your mind, talk to your child's educators. They've guided many families through this exact transition and can offer advice specific to your child, and to how your child's day is structured within our program.