Lead Educator

**Take the lead**

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Your skills, experience, and passion for supporting children as they begin to discover and explore their world are just what we need at Guardian Bentleigh. We have amazing Educators who create safe and secure environments where young children thrive. As Lead Educator, you will work with Educators in the Centre, supporting their teaching practice as they grow and excel as professionals.

You will be building meaningful relationships with children and families, ensuring children are supported to be brave, curious, and imaginative in their learning. Lead Educators are a vital link in supporting Educators and Centre Leadership to develop and implement innovative early learning programs that will set children up for formal schooling and beyond.

As a Lead Educator at Guardian
**Thornbury**, you have the opportunity to grow and excel in your career. Guardian offers professional learning and development programs, career pathways, and a truly collaborative and inclusive learning environment where everyone across the organisation is committed to supporting each other in their professional journey.

Joining Guardians means being part of a professional and thoughtful Team with great
**benefits **that include:

- **Lead your ongoing professional development and learning** through educational programs and support and mentoring and peer support opportunities.
- **Collaborate with other professional Educators and Teachers through **workshops and meetings to share best practice and learn from each other as you innovate in early childhood education programs based on exploration, discovery, and play.
- **Work in high-quality, well-resourced environments** for children and Educators.
- **Reward and recognition **initiatives to acknowledge the value of your contribution to our purpose.
- **Enjoy a competitive salary and financial benefits,** including attractive remuneration packages, generous childcare discounts, recognition and rewards, and an employee referral program

**The Centre**
Our 80-place centre at Thornbury has easy access to public transport and street parking. The light-filled centre also features a beautiful old tree, high ceilings, a wooden cubby house, herb and vegetable gardens, worm farms, pet chickens and a range of age-specific ateliers where our exciting programs come to life. We are proud to have a diverse team of Educators and celebrate a variety of cultures and holidays throughout the year.

**The Opportunity**
Working closely with your fellow Educators and Centre Leadership Team, you will enjoy;
- Developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with children, families, colleagues, and the centre community.
- Lead and guide teams in developing and implementing an innovative early learning program reflective of current early years thinking and practice.
- Documenting and sharing with families in their children's learning and development.
- Actively contributing to the implementation and adoption of the Guardian Curriculum.
- Professional learning and development programs, career pathways, and a truly collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

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**To be considered, you will have**:

- A completed Certificate III and/or Diploma in Children's Services (or working towards)
- Prior experience in long day-care
- Sound, practical working knowledge and implementation of the NQF and the EYLF
- Current Working with Children's Check.

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**Referrals**
We offer referrals for both Guardian and non-Guardian employees. For more details, visit: guardian.edu.au/careers/refer-your-friends

Guardian Child Care & Educations values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences strengthen our teams and help us grow. We are committed to providing a workplace where every person is valued, respected, and supported to progress.

We are also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People feel a strong sense of belonging and connection.

The safety and wellbeing of children will always be our top priority, Guardian Childcare & Education has a zero tolerance for any form of child abuse or harm