Senior Early Years Practitioner

An exciting opportunity has arisen in our Warnambool Office for the position of Senior Worker Early Years Program

The Senior Worker: Early Years plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe, and inclusive services across OzChild's early years programs, including Children's Contact Services (CCS) and Stepping Stones to School programs.

This position provides day-to-day supervision, mentoring, and operational support to staff, ensuring services are delivered with consistency, compassion, and professionalism. The Senior Worker works in close collaboration with the Team Leader to uphold service standards, implement child-inclusive practices, and foster a positive team culture. The Senior Worker will directly supervise the children's contact service part time and casual staff.

Position Specific Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day case consultation and some supervision to program staff, ensuring high-quality and culturally safe service aligned to OzChild's National Practice Framework.
• Act into the Team Leader role during periods of leave or absence, maintaining continuity of leadership and oversight.
• Manage your own case load.
• Support the development of and implementation of staff rosters and schedules, including weekend shifts.
• Contribute to the development and review of program practices, procedures, and documentation.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to staff, including reflective supervision and support with complex cases.
• Provide direct supervision and leadership to causal and part time CCS staff.
• Ensure accurate and timely data collection, reporting, and documentation.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and a positive workplace culture.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support program delivery and client outcomes.
• Support the strategic and operational delivery of SS2S, KEYN, CCS programs.
• Maintain awareness of local, regional, and national issues impacting early years development and post- separation services.
• For your individual and the program work, liaise with Early Years leaders, education settings, ACCOs, legal and community organisations, and peak bodies.
• Ensure culturally sensitive and appropriate services are delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, and CALD communities.
• Provide professional guidance in managing complex cases, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach and effective collaboration.
• Implement staff rosters and schedules to meet service needs across all programs, including the 7-day CCS function.

Qualifications

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification in Education, Social Work or a relevant discipline that is recognised in Australia

Highly Desirable

• Early Childhood Education knowledge and experience
• Experience working in a Children Contact Centre
• Leadership or management qualification
• Degree Qualification in Education, Social Work or a relevant discipline that is recognised in Australia

Screening and Licences

• OzChild conduct interviews, reference checks, and ensure the completion of satisfactory safety screening including National / International Police Check and Working with Children Checks relevant to the State or Territory that employment and undertaking of position occurs.

• Must be able to drive, provide and maintain a valid Drivers' License and have access to reliable transportation.

Skills and Experience

• Passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable or disadvantage children and their families
• Strong educational background and understanding of all education contexts including early years.
• Demonstrated experience in a leadership role
• Demonstrated understanding of local community networks and service organisations
• Demonstrated knowledge of the current policies, practices and service delivery models and developing policy directions of the Family Support Programs combined with the ability to work within current service delivery systems.
• Well-demonstrated written and oral communication skills and highly effective interpersonal skills, including skills in public presentation, the ability to liaise and negotiate with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills, the ability to interpret and practice policy directions, and a capacity to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to promote the role and services of the Agency and support Agency practice standards.
• Knowledge of children's literature and an understanding of early literacy development and the role of play in child development
• Understanding of parenting skills and strategies.
• Extensive case management/assessment  skills
• Demonstrated experience working with children from birth to six years old
• Ability to work within, lead and manage a team whilst being able to work independently
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing staff and programs
• Demonstrated experience in delivering evidence-based programs

How to apply:

Please send through your application with cover letter & resume addressing your skills & experience and your motivation as to why this role would be the perfect fit for you.

For more details in relation to this position, please find attached Positions Description  for your perusal. To discuss the role, or for a confidential discussion please contact