Early Childhood Educator

**Early Childhood Educator**
**Position Number: 56/24**
**Permanent, Full time - 38 hours per week**
**ECTARC Wallaroo Education and Care Services**

**About the Service**
- ECTARC Wallaroo is a 44-place service providing early childhood education and care for children from birth to school age in Shellharbour on the traditional land of the Dharawal peoples. _
- We are within walking distance of Nazareth Primary School, Shellharbour Library, local shopping centre and Elanora Nursing Home, creating many opportunities for our children to get involved with our local community. _
- Wallaroo provides an inclusive environment that welcomes all children and their families. We ensure the program meets the developmental needs of each child, with a holistic approach ensuring that all children are truly integrated into our program. We welcome our connections with families and external agencies and use their knowledge and skills to inform our program and practice._
- Wallaroo uses the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to shape our educational program and practice. We believe children learn best through play so we draw on children’s interests to plan experiences to scaffold their learning. As we value the importance of early language and literacy development, we follow the Australian Abecedarian Approach (3A), which uses everyday routines to enrich our caregiving practices to develop children’s language. This 3A approach also places an emphasis on simple learning games and conversational reading techniques aimed at stretching children’s language. We have links to Shellharbour’s Paint the Town REaD initiative and have our own children’s library available to families. Social and emotional development is fostered through PALS (a social skills program where children role play various scenarios from how to say hello to ‘coping with stressful situations) and another program developed through our close connection to Wollongong University, PRSIST. This program provides various games to help children further develop their behavioural, social & emotional self-regulation skills._

**About the Role**

ECTARC Wallaroo is seeking an experienced educator who holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care to work as part of a passionate and capable team who are committed to enriching the futures of young children. In collaboration with others you will plan and implement high-quality educational, innovative and inclusive programs, whilst also establishing relationships with families to ensure best outcomes for young children.

This is an opportunity for you to work in an organisation who values your experience and skills and will provide ongoing support for you to strengthen your professional knowledge and practice.

**Essential Criteria**:

- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent
- A Working with Children Check clearance number
- Current approved first aid qualification for early education and care HLTAID012
- Completed an approved child protection Statement of Attainment
- Experience working in early childhood services
- Demonstrated ability to undertake the role of Responsible Person on Duty
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of current early childhood theories and practice & children’s services legislation
- Demonstrated high level of ethical and professional behaviour, including collaboration and confidentiality
- A commitment to practicing ECTARC values every day
- Strong commitment to you own professional learning

**Next Steps**

At ECTARC we pay highly competitive salaries above the award rate in accordance with the policies and procedures of ECTARC including
- Above award wages
- 50% discount on childcare fees for staff’s children enrolled in our quality services.
- Paid parental leave - 6 weeks top up.
- Annual ECTARC leave day and 2-3 weeks end of year closure period.
- Wellness program including access to our EAP for you and your family.
- An inclusive work environment.
- EC Management team provides coaching, mentoring and support.
- Two annual planning days and opportunities to join organisational network meetings.
- Paid professional learning via ECTARC’s online learning platform and access to internal and external training and conferen