Early Childhood Educator

**Early Childhood Educator (or working towards)**
**Position Number: 25/23**
**Part time, Fixed term (Parental leave) - 16 hours per week**

**About the Service**:

- ECTARC Jerry Bailey is a 29-place multipurpose service offering both preschool and long day care programs for children from 2 years to school age, located in the small coastal village of Shoalhaven Heads. We are centrally located in a quiet area near a community park and beside the Shoalhaven Heads Botanic Native Garden, with a view to beautiful Cullunghutti Mountain._
- Our environment is very unique and welcoming with a strong sense of community. Being situated in a very quiet pocket near parks and gardens we have the opportunity to engage with natural flora and fauna. We interact with a family of possums that frequent our service, as well as birds that visit the large shady trees in our calm and natural play space._
- Our commitment to reconciliation is a core value of the service which has helped us to develop strong connections with Aboriginal people and embed practice within our everyday routine. We connect with Country by engaging children in caring for country responsibilities and our music and language reflects local culture while supporting children's early literacy skills. We are very much involved with the Paint Shoalhaven Red Black and Yellow literacy initiative._
- We offer a child focused curriculum supported by a STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Maths) approach to learning guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standards (NQS). We use the floor book approach for documenting children's learning, with a focus on listening to children's voices within our program._

**About the Role**
ECTARC Jerry Bailey is seeking an experienced educator who holds a **Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or working towards **to work as part of a passionate and capable team committed to enriching the futures of young children. In collaboration with others, you will plan and implement high-quality educational, innovative, and inclusive programs, whilst also establishing relationships with families to ensure best outcomes for young children.

An educator's role is very rewarding, providing children with the best possible start for lifelong learning. You will be working with a dedicated team, families, and the local school and community, including a range of external stakeholders to provide optimum education and care outcomes for young children.

At ECTARC you will have access to professional development, networks, coaching and mentoring to support you grow professionally and lead to further career opportunities.

Originally known as Illawarra Area Child Care (IACC), our organisation was incorporated in October 1985 and has a proud history of providing optimum education and training services.

ECTARC is proudly a not-for-profit organisation, that successfully manages education and care services in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Our specialist early childhood knowledge, extensive experience and commitment to early education and care for children is why we are a respected leader in the sector. We live by our vision of enriching the futures for the children, families, students, and our communities.

We have a professional, experienced leadership team at our head office who support and resource our ECTARC services to strengthen quality learning and education programs. ECTARC is committed to providing optimum work environments for staff with ongoing professional development opportunities.

ECTARC is committed to being a child safe organisation. We understand that the safety and wellbeing of all children is paramount, we aim to provide environments where all children feel safe and are safe. ECTARC has policies and systems to protect children, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated seriously.

**Essential Criteria**:

- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent
- A Working with Children Check clearance number.
- Current approved first aid qualification for early education and care HLTAID004
- Completed an approved child protection Statement of Attainment
- Experience working in early childhood services.
- Demonstrated ability to undertake the role of Responsible Person on Duty
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience of current early childhood theories and practice & children's services legislation
- Demonstrated high level of ethical and professional behaviour, including collaboration and confidentiality.
- A commitment to practicing ECTARC values every day.
- Strong commitment to you own professional learning.

**Desirable Criteria**:

- ECTARC employees are vaccinated for COVID-19 and are strongly encouraged to obtain an available booster dose as they become available.

**Next Steps**
At ECTARC we pay highly competitive salaries, above the award rate and entitlements in accordance with the policies and pro