My Time Play Leader

Exciting opportunity to play, learn and build your career with Playgroup NSW_
- Casual Position (3 hours per week during school terms)
- Locations - _St Marys_
- Groups run weekly on Saturday Mornings 10.00am to 12.00pm

Playgroup NSW connects people to strengthen child, family, and community well-being through playing, learning, and building communities of support. We are a Not-for-Profit membership association, with more than 50,000 families engaged each year, and our vision over the next three years is all about making a positive difference for children.

Playgroup NSW is currently recruiting for a Play Leader (Educator) to support our MyTime Program in St Marys. Groups run on Saturday Morning (during School Terms) hours will be from 9.30 am - 12.30 pm. People with lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged for these roles.

About MyTime

MyTime is a national program of facilitated peer support groups for parents or caregivers who have a child (0-18 years), with disability, developmental delay, or chronic medical condition ('children with disability'). MyTime provides face-to-face peer support groups for parents/carers and preschool aged children to attend. Groups are supported with a Facilitator for parents/carers and a Play Leader for preschool aged children.

The objective of MyTime is to establish and maintain peer support groups that increase parents/carers feelings of support in their caring role. MyTime aims to:

- Increase parent/carer help-seeking behaviours;
- Increase parent/carer perception of support;
- Increase parent/carer knowledge and skill in parenting a child with disability;
- Increase parental confidence and efficacy;
- Increase parent/carer wellbeing;
- Increase parent/carer empowerment.

Key responsibilities:

- communicate with participants about the specific needs of their child;
- support parents in the implementation of positive strategies to assist with the child's development;
- help with set up and pack away of the learning environment and maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment;
- interact positively with children and parents and encourage participation, language development, self-help skills and social interactions that are purposeful activities.
- Attend professional development externally provided by PRC.

Selection criteria includes:

- Minimum Cert III in Child Related Studies;
- Experience working in an early childhood setting and capacity to work with children with special needs;
- Well-developed knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
- Strong knowledge of development through play practices and positive parenting strategies;
- A proven capacity and experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse, Indigenous and vulnerable families;
- Ability to lift children and equipment when required;
- Working with Children Check verification letter to present on commencement (essential);
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (essential);
- First Aid Certificate (preferable);
- A comprehensively insured car and current driver's licence.

Our Vision at Playgroup NSW is to positively impact every NSW child, their family and community in the first 2,000 days of life.

Our Purpose is to lead play-based programs and services for NSW families with children birth to school age, offering development, shared experiences, and family support, that results in active citizens and inclusive communities.

Our Values are to:

- Be child centric_: Children are at the heart of our work.
- Lead change_: Seek and encourage learning, innovation, and greater positive impact.
- Act with integrity:_ Be honest, accountable and show respect.
- Work smart, play often:_ Be goal focused, mindful of people's wellbeing and enjoy work.

Playgroup NSW is driven by these values, demonstrates them in our work and in our relationships and encourages them across our membership and in all our activities.