Early Years Educator

About Children's Ground

Children's Ground is a First Nations organisation. The Children's Ground Approach is designed and delivered through the leadership of First Nations people. We are committed to systems change to ensure dignity, justice and equity for all children and families. Our work focuses on national reform as well as evidencing a new way of working.

The Children's Ground Approach is a whole of community, whole of life approach. We privilege First Nations knowledge systems and practice. Over the course of a generation, led by local expertise, we create and deliver an integrated system that is centred on learning, development and wellbeing that responds to the child and their family through the key transition points from pre-birth to young adulthood.

Our approach recognises the cultural, social, and economic strength of our communities. We build on this over a generation to ensure a future for our children and grandchildren that gives them freedom, opportunity and rights to their culture and identity.

Children's Ground operates in Central Australia and across the Top End, with support provided by a Melbourne-based Shared Services team.

About you

We are seeking a creative educationalist with qualifications in Early Years Learning or someone actively working towards the attainment of an Early Years Education qualification. You need to have a passion for innovative learning, be prepared to work outdoors and have an understanding of the key challenges facing First Nations People and the strengths of First Nations People.

About the role

Educators work alongside our experienced Arrernte educationalists and governance committee with a focus on community empowerment. Early Years Educators are responsible for the design and implementation of an innovative and integrated approach to learning and wellbeing. Our Educators are committed to early years learning that privileges First Nations culture with the best of Western teachings - learning on country.

Key Responsibilities

Early Years Learning

·       Deliver quality community and centre based early years learning with Arrernte educators and communities that fits within Children's Ground's philosophies, policies and procedures and regulatory requirements

·       Support, document and monitor individualised learning and development aligned with individual learning plans

·       Work collaboratively with the Early Years (EY) team to design and deliver EY activities, including the development of first language resources

·       Encourage and support all First Nations families, valuing their ideas, strategies and aspirations

·       Work with an interdisciplinary team to deliver an integrated and innovative learning approach including health and wellbeing, creative arts, digital and other areas

·       Support extended hours learning opportunities.

Program Design, Standards and Implementation

·       With the team, develop dynamic learning activities which engage local cultural knowledge systems

·       Ensure children are offered a quality, play-based environment that will support mastery in their creative, cultural and Western academic domains

·       Ensure health, social and emotional wellbeing and development are an embedded part of the learning and wellbeing platform

·       Ensure creativity is an embedded part of the learning and wellbeing platform.

Operational Systems and Standards

·       Comply with policies and procedures and participate in reviews as needed

·       Ensure Children's Ground's duty of care is met and learning/work environments are, as far as practicable, safe and supportive for families, children and volunteers.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

·       Maintain records including data collection and data entry in the CG database

·       Maintain confidential, organised and up-to-date files relating to people

·       Contribute to writing papers and articulation of frameworks for Children's Ground

·       Contribute to local reporting as requested.

Key Selection Criteria

·       Degree or recognised qualification in Early Years Learning (eligible for teacher registration in NT)   or actively working towards the attainment of an Early Years Education qualification

·       Minimum 1 years' teaching experience

·       Experience organising a learning environment that suits different ages and abilities (multi- aged class)

·       A passion for quality innovative learning and wellbeing environments

·       Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

·       Strong people skills and a collaborative mind frame – teamwork, facilitation, supervision, liaison

·       Ability to work flexibly and creatively in a demanding NGO environment

·       A current full driver's license, First Aid Certificate, Anaphylaxis and Asthma Management training, and Working with Children Check (NT Ochre card).

This position will remain open until a successful candidate has been secured. Please apply with a resume and cover letter that should include a pitch. Your pitch should tell us why you are suited to the position and why you want to work with Children's Ground. Use the Selection Criteria to guide your pitch.

Children's Ground is committed to a workforce that reflects the communities we work with. In line with our workforce strategy, we warmly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.

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