Facilitator (Mytime Program)

**_Exciting opportunity to play, learn and build your career with Playgroup NSW_**
- Casual/Part-time Positions (up to 15 hours per week to cover all locations)
- Locations include _Raymond Terrace, Cardiff, Woodberry_
- Groups run weekly on scheduled days (8 sessions per school term)

Playgroup NSW connects people to strengthen child, family, and community well-being through playing, learning, and building communities of support. We are a Not-for-Profit membership association, with more than 50,000 families engaged each year, and our vision over the next three years is all about making a positive difference for children.

Playgroup NSW is currently recruiting for Facilitators to facilitate groups within our MyTime Program in the Central, North Coast and Hunter Region. If you are available to cover all locations, the hours are 15 per week. People with lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged for these roles.

**About MyTime**

MyTime is a national program of facilitated peer support groups for parents or caregivers who have a child (0-18 years), with disability, developmental delay, or chronic medical condition (‘children with disability’). MyTime provides face-to-face peer support groups for parents/carers and preschool aged children to attend. Groups are supported with a Facilitator for parents/carers and a Play Leader for preschool aged children.

The objective of MyTime is to establish and maintain peer support groups that increase parents/carers feelings of support in their caring role. MyTime aims to:

- Increase parent/carer help-seeking behaviours;
- Increase parent/carer perception of support;
- Increase parent/carer knowledge and skill in parenting a child with disability;
- Increase parental confidence and efficacy;
- Increase parent/carer wellbeing;
- Increase parent/carer empowerment.

We require Facilitators for our **MyTime Program** at the following locations/days (8 sessions per school term only):

- Tuesday (9.30 - 12.30) - **Woodberry**:

- Thursday (9.30 - 12.30) - **Raymond Terrace**:

- Friday (9.30 - 12.30) - **Cardiff**

**Key responsibilities**:

- Group session planning and preparation (strengths-based, flexible and responsive to local circumstances).
- Facilitate group sessions and help parents/carers get to know each other.
- Group sessions contain - informal discussion, structured topics led by facilitators or guests from local relevant services, facilitate relaxation and recreation activities and events.
- Encourage group members to set the agenda and use their own strengths to support each other.
- Post-group member follow-up.
- Networking with local relevant services.
- Provide information about services, supports, local resources, and provide referrals to other services.
- Data collection, reporting and compliance requirement.
- Attend professional development externally provided by PRC.

**Selection criteria includes**:

- A diploma or degree in a relevant area (ie. family support, child development, social work, psychology, occupational therapy); OR
- Significant experience in the facilitation of groups and work in the family support context; AND
- Knowledge and understanding of issues facing parents of children with additional needs (lived experience preferred); AND
- Extensive experience in the delivery of group interventions; AND
- Experience in the delivery of family services via online methods (preferably group services).
- Strong knowledge of community and services relevant to families and children (NDIS providers, family support, health and education)
- Confidence in building relationships with local services and networking
- Working with Children Check verification letter to present on commencement (essential);
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (essential);
- First Aid Certificate (preferable);
- A comprehensively insured car and current driver’s licence.

**Our Vision **at Playgroup NSW is to positively impact every NSW child, their family and community in the first 2,000 days of life.

**O**ur Purpose **is to lead play-based programs and services for NSW families with children birth to school age, offering development, shared experiences, and family support, that results in active citizens and inclusive communities.

**Our Values** are to:

- Be child centric_: Children are at the heart of our work.
- Lead change_: Seek and encourage learning, innovation, and greater positive impact.
- Act with integrity:_ Be honest, accountable and show respect.
- Work smart, play often:_ Be goal focused, mindful of people's wellbeing and enjoy work.

Playgroup NSW is driven by these values, demonstrates them in our work and in our relationships and encourages them across our membership and in all our activities.