• 2 year fixed term contract
• 25 - 32 hr/week, Flexible hours, Extra leave

People with disability and carers of children with disability are encouraged to apply. Reasonable adjustments are available for the recruitment process and in the job design.

Our Disability Program

Toy Libraries Australia (TLA) was recently awarded a $1.5m ILC Social and Community Participation grant to develop community toy libraries as accessible services for children with disability and their families to foster inclusion and community connection over the next 2 years. This is the largest grant TLA has ever received.

The program will:

• Understand barriers and identify enabling factors to accessing toy libraries for families who have a child with disability
• Design and implement three pilots to address the identified barriers and build on the enabling factors
• Based on the evaluation results and learnings, refine the pilot design into initiatives or programs that can be implemented by many toy libraries
• Roll out initiatives to TLA members across Australia, including providing the training and support required to embed new processes or behaviours
• Deliver a marketing campaign to increase the awareness of toy libraries by parents, caregivers and professionals who care for and support children with disability
• Provide training and develop resources for toy library staff and volunteers
• Develop a secondary consultation service where toy libraries can get advice from paediatric training allied health professionals on toy recommendations for members with specific disability and goals
• Develop resources that help parents and caregivers support their child to learn through play at home with toys from the toy library
• Pilot a specialist inter-toy library borrowing service

The Disability Program team will have 5 staff (3 FTE) – a program manager, 2 x program officers, a design and marketing professional and an allied health professional.

Responsibilities of this role

The Disability Program Manager will lead the team and be responsible for the successful delivery of the program activities mentioned above.

They will also be responsible for:

• Implementing strong program and financial management processes and systems
• Collaborating with our academic partner to design and deliver a research program and evaluation framework
• Being across changes in disability policy (including foundational supports) and identifying opportunities for TLA and/or toy libraries
• Developing the Activity Workplan with the Department of Social Services and reporting against the workplan
• Building strong relationships with funders, other sector organisations and toy libraries
• Convening the TLA Disability Advisory Group
• Representing TLA at conferences and events
• Work with TLA member toy libraries, to support those engaged in research and pilots and to promote and support toy libraries to pilot and implement changes.
• Work with other TLA staff to communicate the activities of the project to member toy libraries and other key stakeholders.

The role will require some intrastate and interstate travel.

Experience

Highly desirable:

• Lived experience of disability (including as a carer)
• Experience (paid or unpaid) working in toy libraries or similar volunteer run organisations

Required:

• Professional experience in disability or community services leadership
• Strong track record of successfully managing programs of a similar size
• Experience leading people
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to innovate and create change
• Competent use of Microsoft 365, including Sharepoint, Outlook, Microsoft Office and Teams
• Understanding of, and experience working in, a child safe organisation
• Can legally work in Australia

Education

• Relevant tertiary qualification in disability services, community services, allied health or a related field

ABOUT TOY LIBRARIES AUSTRALIA

Toy Libraries Australia (TLA) is the peak body for over 290 not for profit toy libraries in Australia. We support a growing community of Australian not-for-profit toy libraries, encouraging families to play and learn together in a sustainable way.

Our team of 12 staff all work flexible part time hours and are located across Australia. All staff currently work from home with our ‘office’ being a virtual space that allows flexibility and connectivity with others team members wherever they are.

A position description is attached.