Early Childhood

Early Childhood - Program Leader

Posted by Lady Forster Kindergarten on 27 Feb 2025

**Organisation**

Lady Forster Kindergarten

**For Provider**

Lady Forster Kindergarten Inc.

**Closing date**

09.03.2025

**Primary role**

Activity Group Leader (AGL)

**Position type**

Full-time

**Location**

Elwood

**State**

VIC

**About the Centre/Service**

Lady Forster Kindergarten (LFK) is a busy, two-room, 49-place, community kindergarten located right on the foreshore of Elwood. Our unique location provides children with a beach/bush setting right on their doorstep and our programs encourage children’s deep immersion in the natural world, including weekly bush/beach walks. We are a parent-managed, not-for-profit kindergarten, with a rich 100-year history and an outstanding reputation. We value excellence, inclusion, engagement and integrity in our work with children, families and our local community, and we support our friendly, professional and capable team to thrive. We have achieved a consistent rating of ‘Exceeding’ the National Quality Standards for nearly a decade, and in the past six years, have achieved this rating across all seven Quality Areas. Our programs include: - 3YO & 4YO Sessional Kindergarten - Extended Hours (Long Day) Kindergarten - Occasional Care/Friday Care Program - Term Holiday Programs

**Work Days of the Role**

Monday to Friday inclusive

**Hours of Work of the Role**

Permanent, Full-Time role: Kindergarten operating hours: 7.30 am - 6.00 pm.

**Description**
- This is a rare opportunity for an Early Childhood Program Leader to join our small, friendly team of high-quality teachers and educators. The Program Leader will work across several programs including:

- Extended Hours Kindergarten program Monday-Thursday during term time.
- Lead the ‘closing team’ in this program, Monday-Friday.
- Support the weekly bush/beach walk outings on Mon/Tues.
- Develop, implement and lead the ‘Friday Care Program’ every Friday during term-time.
- Develop, implement and lead the ‘Holiday Program’ in each term break, managing a small team of educators.

The role may well suit a variety of applicants including:

- A seasoned and experienced Diploma educator
- Graduate teachers with minimum 2-3 years’ experience seeking program leadership experience
- Experienced teachers looking to step back from the full responsibilities and demands of teaching

**Qualifications**
- Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in an early childhood setting, preferably in a leadership role.
- Minimum qualifications (see above)
- Working with Children Check and National Police Check, OR VIT registration
- ACECQA-approved First Aid qualifications: (HLTAID012 First Aid course, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training)
- Current Training Certificate in ‘Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting’
- Sound knowledge of Early Childhood development, EYLF, and VEYLDF Early Years Frameworks, the National Quality Standards and the Child Safe Standards.
- Reasonable knowledge of the National Law and Regulations.
- A friendly, team-oriented attitude and the ability to work with different age groups in various settings and to foster warm, reciprocal relationships with children and families.
- An understanding of the provision of a safe, well planned, welcoming and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environment that promotes learning and exploration.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Exceptional supervision skills.
- Strong computer skills.
- Prior experience with planning and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and programs for young children.
- Australian residency or full rights to work in Australia.

**Desirable but not essential**: Prior experience in:

- A similar Program Leader role.
- Bush/beach/outdoor/nature-based kindergarten programs.
- A community, not for profit, kindergarten setting.
- Working with diversity amongst children including children with additional needs or with behaviour that can be challenging.
- Working in/leading Holiday programs with children aged 3-7 years.

Ideally you will live locally, within easy travelling distance of Elwood.

**Additional Requirements**

Benefits: - The role is available for an immediate start. - Join a highly regarded community kindergarten with an established reputation. - Work with a team focussed on the development and wellbeing of children. - Work in close harmony with the natural world in engaging and inviting indoor and outdoor spaces on the foreshore of Elwood Beach. - Experience warm support and mentoring from a dedicated Educational Leader and highly experienced teachers. - Support for career development in a role that draws on all your early childhood experience, natural leadership and management skills where you will be challenged to develop further, with sole charge/program leadership responsibilities. (e.g. The prior Program Leader in this role started with LFK as a Diploma-qualified educator, progressing into the’ Program Leader’ role