Community Coordinator

**Full-time, hybrid working model**:

- **Understanding of the challenges in Regional and Rural communities**:

- **Flexible hours with additional 'play days' throughout the year**:

- **This role will be based in our convenient CBD office in Sydney’s vibrant Barangaroo (with some Regional and Rural travel required)**

**About the Company**

Playgroup NSW supports and delivers a range of strengths-based programs and playgroup related engagements to its 55,000 member families, including but not limited to: Universal community volunteer led programs; Targeted early intervention and preventative programs specifically for children and families experiencing vulnerabilities, and for children with a disability and their carers; Programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse families; Perinatal mental and parent/child mental health programs, and Intergenerational programs including older Australians.

For 50 years, playgroups have been a fundamental community building block, creating vital social networks in which children, parents, grandparents, and carers play together, share knowledge and experiences, connect, and grow stronger as a community. There are Playgroup organisations in all states and territories.

Playgroup NSW respects and honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

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

Our 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.

**About the Role**

Reporting to the Programs Lead - Community and Volunteer Engagement, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality and ongoing delivery of Community Playgroups throughout NSW with a focus on supporting all community related programs and volunteer engagement in Regional and Rural NSW.

**Key Responsibilities include**:
**Quality & Service Delivery**
- Lead playgroup delivery of Community Playgroups through ongoing evaluation, support, training and guidance to volunteers and educators and help implement strategies/examples of pedagogy and practice, including provision of inclusive, child-centered play-based experiences.
- Provision of relevant information about services parents/carers can access as well as ongoing development of referral pathways.
- Work with local councils and venue operators to advocate for affordable venue options and assist in closure and removal of resources on termination of lease agreements.
- Develop and maintain regular and consistent contact, effective communication and professional relationships with children, families, team members, critical stakeholders, and funding agencies.
- Encourage greater awareness and build authentic connection between local playgroups and local services systems with support of the Program Lead.
- Support and advocate for increased child and family participation in the community as well as supporting all playgroups to be accessible, inclusive, and welcoming.

**Playgroup Volunteer Capacity Building**
- Ongoing assistance to volunteers and other stakeholders to start up new groups, close groups or continue playgroups where unique support may be required.
- Assist volunteers to develop stability and sustainability for their groups, including providing information in relation to group management, funding contracts, reporting requirements and administration, and building capacity of volunteers to source grants, fundraise and identify other financial opportunities.
- Support establishment of new playgroups with focus on areas of greatest need such as communities experiencing vulnerability and/or those experiencing disadvantage.
- Provision of relevant information to support and build capacity of families and volunteers in child development knowledge.
- Provide ongoing training and resources for volunteers including all aspects of starting community playgroup, sustaining playgroups, promoting inclusion and safety, sourcing venues, and providing local advocacy to drive participation.
- Responding to volunteer and group enquiries in a timely manner and providing ongoing and regular communications with volunteer and committee members

**Strategy, Compliance & Continuous Improvement**
- Contribute and work towards goals contained in the PGNS