Family & Community Engagement Worker

**Role**: Family & Community Engagement Worker
**Location**: Supporting Goodstart VIC West & TAS - covering from Melbourne Central to Grampians (on the traditional lands of Gunaikurnai, Bunurong, Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Peoples) and Tasmania (on the traditional lands of the Muwinina People)
**Employment Type**: Permanent Part-time (0.8fte) = 30.4hrs per week
At Goodstart, we're not just Australia's largest provider of early learning and care - we're a passionate community of 15,000 team members across more than 660 centres, dedicated to nurturing over 60,000 children every day. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, our mission is to improve the lives of Australia's children and their families.
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families experiencing vulnerability?
Join Goodstart in our mission to provide high-quality, inclusive early learning and care for children and families facing significant disadvantage.
As a Family and Community Engagement Worker, you'll form strategic partnerships with families, community organisations, and local service providers, building strong relationships and navigating the service system to support families experiencing hardship. Your role will also involve advising and coaching Goodstart Centres on recognising and responding to vulnerability, abuse, and neglect, and advocating for the wellbeing of children and families.
Your work will help shape the future, ensuring every child gets the best start in life.
**Your Impact**:
As a Family & Community Engagement Worker, you'll play a crucial role in:
Navigating systems to support families’ access to Goodstart ECEC in a timely manner
Assisting in connecting children and families to Early Childhood Education and Care
Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with children and families
Leading, mentoring, and supporting centre teams and referral organisations
Monitoring, delivering and communicating outcomes as required by the Increasing Access and Participation Project
Using internal and external networks to ensure children and families have access to appropriate support networks
**What Goodstart can offer you**:
Flexible work arrangements giving you choice about when and how work will be done in order to better manage your work and non-work needs (as agreed with line manager)
Salary Packaging benefits which reduce your taxable income to increase take home pay
Access to discounted childcare (up to 15%)
Discounted health care and access to employee wellbeing program with BUPA
Exclusive discounts on travel, gym memberships, Apple and Dell products, and more
Free annual flu shot (optional)
Option to purchase extra leave for even greater work life balance
First Nations Support and Cultural Leave
Work for a company that has an aspiration to be globally recognised for early years practice and learning outcomes
Gain significant investment in your growth and development with support, tools, training and experiences that will truly enhance the progress and outcomes for children in their earliest years
**You’ll bring to the table**:
Bachelor of Early Childhood, Social Work or similar qualification or equivalent experience (mandatory)
Experience in delivering integrated early childhood services in, or working within, areas of disadvantage (desirable)
Substantial experience working with children and families
Comprehensive knowledge of the child and family service system and proven skill in navigating these to deliver programs and services
Experience leading change in education, health or community services (desirable)
Ability to undertake state based metropolitan and regional travel is necessary
An open driver’s license
Current Working with Children Check
How to apply
Supporting our people and protecting our children
We’re an equal opportunity employer that is proud of our inclusive and diverse work environment. We know that Goodstarters from diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences strengthen our teams and help us grow. We’re also deeply committed to Reconciliation and creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People feel a strong sense of belonging and connection.
**Posting Notes**: PORT MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE || VIC || Australia (AU) || | SF: LI || Bachelor (ECT) 4yr || Part-Time