Pedagogical Leader

**Part time, fixed term contract Dec 2026****:

- **KG 2.1 - 2.5 salary range from $95,937 - $110,897 per annum inclusive of leave buy back, plus super****:

- **Located in Wendouree at our new Rowan View Children’s Centre**

**The Role**:
Parkville Institute is an innovative research and practice institute established as a not-for-profit organisation in 2021 to enable infants and young children living with significant family stress and social disadvantage, including exposure to trauma, abuse and neglect, to enter school as confident and successful learners who are developmentally and educationally equal to their peers.

Our organisation is working with Parkville Institute to conduct a replication of the Early Years Education Program. EYEP was initiated by Kids First, previously the Children’s Protection Society (CPS), an independent not-for-profit child and family services organisation based in the north-east of Melbourne which

was founded in 1896. The program was designed and implemented by CPS in collaboration with Associate Professor Brigid Jordan and Dr Anne Kennedy.

Our site in Wendouree has been identified as one of two ‘Safe Haven’ sites funded by the Victorian Department of Education (VIC). This service will seek to determine whether children, recruited with the same eligibility criteria as those in previous trials, can achieve the same remarkable learning and development outcomes.

We are currently seeking a passionate and committed Early Years Leader who will have the chance to own this role and work as part of the senior leadership team to:

- lead the high quality educational and care program
- develop a warm, welcoming, stimulating learning environment for children and families
- inspire excellent pedagogical practice across the service
- contribute to the development of a culture of continuous improvement; and
- collaborate with the senior leadership team and stakeholders to maintain the service philosophy.

Key features of the program include high staff/child ratios, highly qualified and experienced educators, yourself as a dedicated pedagogical leader, an infant mental health consultant and a family support worker as members of the staff team that have ample time to plan, reflect and collaborate as a team.

This is an extremely rewarding position suiting an experienced early years professional who preferably has knowledge of trauma informed practice attachment theory and established professional networks with a strong interest in a multidisciplinary approach and commitment to addressing the early years needs of the children and families of the Ballarat community.

**About You**:
You will have:

- a genuine interest in meeting the needs of children and their families
- be able to demonstrate an ability to lead a team of early year professionals with a holistic approach to the care, education and development of children that reflects an awareness of the wellbeing of children in your care.
- strong communication and relationship building skills that will see you foster and sustain partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders including parents, colleagues and community members.
- a natural ability to motivate and lead staff to achieve desired outcomes within parameters of the service.
- previous experience working with vulnerable communities within a child-centred, trauma informed, family-focused framework supported by an understanding of and respect for diverse social and cultural values and attitudes in relation to caring for children.
- a minimum Bachelor’s degree in early childhood (or equivalent as approved by Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority) and have proven experience in early childhood and care.

As Pedagogical Leader you will lead a team of early childhood professionals to work within the service philosophy, the National Quality Framework including National Law and National Regulations, National Quality Standard and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)

**Key Selection Criteria**:

- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in early childhood (or equivalent as approved by Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)
- Demonstrated experience in delivering a high-quality learning environment that is inclusive and meets the needs of all children in line with the National Quality Framework.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing a play-based educational program and assessment and planning cycle.
- Demonstrated experience of working with children living with significant social disadvantage, family stress and risk factors within a child-centered, trauma informed, family-focused framework.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to engage and work with a diverse range of stakeholders including parents, colleagues and local community members
- Ability and willingness to support and direct a team of Early Childhood Educators
- Knowledge and understanding of health and s