• Position Type: Casual
• Hours: 4-13 hours per week negotiable
• Wage: $30 per hour including casual loading

About Nature Play Learning

Our vision is to reconnect kids and their parents to nature. Children deserve all the benefits that come from playing in nature: the resilience, the tranquillity, the challenge, the fun and the beauty. Nature play fosters good development in children, mentally, socially and physically and is the ultimate sensory experience for them. Through playing in nature and having the freedom to explore their world, we help children learn to care for their environment and one another.

Nature Play Learning is passionate about sustainability and all our programs aim to have minimal impact on our natural world. We work with local rangers to understand how to “leave no trace” on the local bushland areas and our activities should have little to no waste.

We are a young company and developing our knowledge and understanding of nature play and the natural world is important as we grow. You will be expected to take part in training opportunities, both sharing your own knowledge and learning from others.

Nature Play Learning is committed to being a child safe organisation and supports flexible working arrangements for all.

The role

We seeking someone who is passionate about preserving our environment, as well as the healthy development of children to join as a bush playgroup facilitator. Your role is to provide a safe, yet exploratory environment in which children can play and learn. You will bring a sense of adventure and wonder, an appreciation of our first people’s culture and the importance of play to children’s development. We are looking for someone actively engages with parents/carers and who can build social connection and community. You must be able to build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds and will deliver quality early learning experiences for children.

Our playgroups are all-weather, so you will need to be happy to work outdoors in any weather. This is a casual role of 7-16 hours per week (2-5 playgroups), at $30 per hour. There is some flexibility in days of work, but our playgroups run in the mornings from 9:30am. First Aid, WWC check and driver’s licences are essential (first aid can be updated following employment). Experience in early childhood or primary teaching highly regarded, but not essential.

Our values

• Sustainability and love of the natural world
• Child-autonomy in play and learning
• Social connection and community
• Appreciation of our first people’s culture
• Sense of adventure and wonder

Key responsibilities/duties

• Plan and deliver a quality learning environment that promote healthy childhood development and are specifically tailored to the children involved in an urban bushland setting.
• Follow the policies and procedures outlined in the Nature Play Learning Bush Playgroup Handbook. Maintain a safe environment for children and carers by undertaking risk assessment and knowing how to minimise risks at bush playgroup.
• Build a strong social community by actively engaging with participants, both parents/carers and children. Promote activities that require parents to interact with one another.
• Support parents or carers through listening, discussion and positive role modelling.
• Be respectful, inclusive and mindful of diverse cultural practices and family structures
• Provide first aid if required.
• Complete a report termly and as required.
• Record expenses regularly.
• Purchase required resources as well as clean and maintain equipment throughout the term.
• Communicate openly with all team members to share ideas and suggestions for program improvement.
• Practise sustainability when planning and implementing bush playgroup activities.
• Participate actively in professional development activities.
• Undertake other related activities as required.

Qualifications, accreditation and experience

• WWC Check required
• First Aid required
• Driver’s licence required
• Early childhood or primary teaching qualification highly regarded, but not essential for the right candidate
• Experience in working with children highly regarded.

Key Selection Criteria

• Ability to work independently and with a sense of humour
• Ability to form strong interpersonal relationships and create positive communities
• Willingness and capacity to implement risk management strategies and safe work practices.
• Sound time management and problem solving skills
• Proven alignment with Nature Play Learning’s values
• Knowledge of child development needs and understanding the value of play in child development
• Knowledge of the natural world, sustainability and Australia’s Aboriginal culture and a willingness to share that knowledge and learn from others.