• Are you passionate about supporting children through their early year of development?
• Have you had experience providing parents / caregivers with a framework to understand attunement and the principles of secure attachment?
• Do you want to assist in enriching the relationships between parents / caregivers and their children?

If so, then this role is for you!

ABOUT US

Banksia Gardens Community Services is a vibrant community service charitable organisation operating in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Our programs focus mainly on education and training, young people, early childhood, environmental sustainability and community participation and advocacy.

The Playcircle program operates out of our Broadmeadows premises ensuring that local children and their families are provided the opportunity, and access to safe and inclusive activities. The program aims to provide high-quality experiences that prepare children aged 0–5 for their future learning environments.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Playcircle program operates two sessions per week on a Monday. The program utilises the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) to be able to support both parents /caregivers and children in the program.

Banksia Gardens operates within Hume, which is a culturally diverse community. As such the Playcircle program ensures that this is an environment that is culturally relevant and safe for all attendees. By doing this, the aim is to provide children with educational opportunities through play based activities. The program looks to improve outcomes for children in the following areas: health and physical activity, learning confidence and childhood development.

Playcircle also aims to support parents/caregivers and family networks of the children attending. There is an understanding that many carers will have their own trauma and this may impact on their capacity to support their children. By providing resources and targeted education, the program hopes to facilitate a shift to secure attachment bonds between caregivers and their children.

As children progress through the program, there is also a focus on school readiness and to support all involved to ensure a successful transition to both kindergarten and school.

ABOUT YOU

• Relevant qualification (Minimum Diploma or minimum 3 years relevant work experience) in Early Childhood, community, or other relevant field.
• Experience in program delivery and dealing with children aged 0–5.
• Sound understanding of the role Playcircle/Playgroups play in improving outcomes for children, families, and communities.
• Strong writing and reporting skills.
• Experience in supervisory/team leader or mentoring roles.
• Knowledge of Victorian Child Safe Standards and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations Framework.
• Sound understanding of child development, Early Years Learning & Development Framework, and other relevant frameworks or a willingness to learn and continue with Professional Development.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Part time playgroup coordinator position
• Join a passionate and dedicated team making a difference within our community
• Encouraged work life balance and a broad range of leave entitlements. Including annual leave, personal leave, study leave, paid parental leave and family and domestic violence leave
• Access to a range of mental health and wellbeing support initiatives. Including access to our Employee Assistance Program
• Access to a range of training and Professional Development opportunities that will benefit and support your role

apply now

Our organisation is proud to serve the City of Hume, one of the most culturally diverse places in the whole of Australia. BGCS is committed to human rights, gender equity and fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights of minorities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the LGBTQIA+ community.

We genuinely acknowledge and respect everyone’s individual values, beliefs, efforts, ideas, language and cultural and religious backgrounds and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

BGCS is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and provide Working with Children Check and or VIT registration.

A full position description is attached below.

To submit your application, click Apply Now.

For more information about the role contact Michael Mansour or email [email protected] using the subject line: Playcircle Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs.