Facilitator/lead Educator

**_Exciting opportunity to play, learn and build your career with Playgroup NSW_**

Playgroup NSW is currently recruiting for a Lead Educator in Glendenning to facilitate a group within our Play Connect Program.
- Casual
- SCHCADS Level 3
- Glendenning - Thurs morning (School Terms Only)

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.

**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.

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.

Our **PlayConnect Program** is a supported playgroup designed to support families of children with autism, developmental delays and/or behavioural concerns 0 - 6 years of age. The program looks to increase developmental outcomes for children, connect parents with other local parents and link families to relevant information and services in the community.

**Lead Educators / Facilitators** are responsible for the implementation and programming of each playgroup session.
- This includes setting up an inviting and aesthetic environment and implementing a playgroup routine with thoughtful and purposeful play experiences based on the attending children’s strengths, interests, and emerging skills.
- Lead Educators will also be required to make families feel welcome, help them connect with other families, build parental capacity and confidence and provide a range of information and linkages to relevant supports and mainstream services in the community.

We require a Lead Educator/Facilitator for our **PlayConnect Program** at **Glendenning **every Thursday morning during School Terms (9.30 - 12.30pm)

Key responsibilities include:

- establish the Playgroups for families and ensure they include a peer support group.
- facilitate group topics and structured sessions;
- support and guide groups and ensure the inclusive program approach is adopted and adhered to;
- participate in the ongoing development of the program and share insights and ideas with Community Coordinators;
- maintain accurate records and ensure all administrative tasks are completed on time;
- maintain a duty of care to ensure safety of all attending the Playgroups and promptly report all hazards, incidents and injuries;
- participate in the ongoing development of Playgroup NSW and share insights and ideas with other Playgroup NSW staff;
- other functions and responsibilities as directed by your manager.

Selection criteria includes:

- Tertiary qualifications and/or minimum 3 years experience in early childhood, community development or social work is mandatory;
- Experience & understanding of issues facing parents and carers of children with additional needs and knowledge of relevant disability & carer support systems or willingness to learn;
- Experience and understanding of early childhood development and play using a child-led approach;
- A proven capacity and experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse, Indigenous and vulnerable families;
- Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve program objectives;
- A demonstrated ability to engage with the community to achieve program objectives and organisational goals;
- Working with Children Check verification letter to present on commencement (essential);
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (essential);
- First Aid Certificate (preferable);
- A current driver’s licence.