Early December wrap: summer shifts across care, education and ICT
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The first week of December often feels like a turning point.

In Western Australia the light changes, temperatures climb and many services begin to look closely at the weeks leading into Christmas and the New Year. It is a busy, important time for healthcare, childcare and ICT teams, and for the people who support them.

For healthcare services, early December usually brings a familiar mix of steady demand and new pressures. Managers are finalising holiday rosters and trying to balance safe staffing with long awaited leave. In aged care and community health there is a noticeable emotional load as residents and clients feel the weight of the season. Allied health professionals, nurses and support workers are doing their best to keep care consistent while colleagues come and go around planned breaks.

In childcare and early learning, the first days of summer break routines wide open. Some children are finishing their final weeks before school, others are attending more frequently as families juggle work and holiday plans. Educators are managing big feelings in small bodies, celebrating achievements while also preparing children for change. End of year events and transitions are joyful, but they also demand careful emotional labour from staff who may themselves be tired after a full year.

ICT teams sit just behind these visible services, carrying a different kind of early summer workload. Rostering systems, electronic records, family communication tools and booking platforms all come under strain as organisations adjust hours, change staff patterns and plan for closures or reduced operations. A single issue in December can ripple quickly through a busy clinic or early learning service. The most resilient organisations tend to be the ones that bring ICT into the planning conversation early, rather than waiting for something to break.

Across all three sectors one theme stands out in the first week of December, the need for realistic planning and honest conversations. Services that encourage staff to name what they need, rather than simply coping quietly, are more likely to keep people safe and engaged through the holiday period. This might mean rethinking how shifts are shared, adjusting expectations about what can be achieved in the final weeks, or creating small moments of recognition for teams who are still working while others begin their break.

For candidates, early December can also be a time of decision. Some are looking ahead to the new year with a clear intention to find a role that offers better support, more predictable hours or a stronger team culture. Others are testing the water more gently, updating a curriculum vitae or taking a first call with a recruiter. In every case, the conversation is shaped by what this year has felt like and what they hope the next one will be.

At BB Recruitment we use this period to listen closely. Weekly check ins with services help us understand where pressure points are emerging, in healthcare wards, in community allied health, in long day care and in ICT operations. We look at short term needs, such as holiday coverage, and at longer term patterns, such as chronic vacancies or teams that are relying heavily on overtime. This information guides how we support both clients and candidates in the weeks ahead.

As December unfolds, our focus will remain on safe staffing, thoughtful transitions and realistic expectations. In healthcare that means protecting minimum safe levels while still giving people space to rest. In childcare it means supporting educators and families through farewells and new beginnings. In ICT it means steady, calm support that keeps essential systems running when services can least afford interruptions.

The start of summer is a busy time, but it can also be an opportunity to reset. By naming what is working, noticing where teams are stretched and planning with care, organisations can move into the rest of December with more confidence, and with a clearer path toward the new year.

If your service is reviewing rosters, planning for the holiday period or thinking about new roles in the new year, we would be glad to talk about how we can support you.

📧 enquiries@bbrecruitment.com.au
📞 08 6216 0014
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