Job Description

• Permanent Part time, 22.8 hours per week
• $127,969.40 per annum (pro rata) plus Superannuation
• Join the Family Youth and Children team

Hume City Council is one of Australia’s fastest growing and culturally diverse councils. We put the customer and our community at the centre of all that we do, ensuring our services are efficient and accessible.

The Inclusion and Service Planning team is seeking applications from suitably qualified professionals to join our collaborative Preschool Field Officer team.

What you’ll be doing:

• Actively engage in the capacity building of kindergarten educators and other early childhood professionals through the provision of a collaborative partnership approach that includes responding to children with additional needs and providing for their inclusion in their everyday learning opportunities, activities, and routines.
• Provide early childhood educators and professionals with information and collaborate with internal support teams to identify training opportunities, strategies, and other resources, for example, Best Start and School Readiness Funding (SRF), particularly where it relates to the successful inclusion of children with additional needs and their families.
• Actively support educators to build collaborative, trusting and respectful relationships with families that enable educators to support, plan and provide for the ongoing learning and development of children within a kindergarten program.
• Actively encourage a family-centred approach and building the capacity of educators to establish positive partnerships with families.
• Actively support educators to maximise the use of universal and targeted services for example: Access to Early Learning (AEL), supporting transition to 3-year-old kindergarten and facilitating referrals for families.
• Collaborate with educators to promote and support an integrated service system, supported referrals and support to families.
• Maintain accurate and up to date client records and data collection as required by the Department of Education and Training and Council.
• Support the Learning Outcomes described for children (0-8 years) in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF 2016)
• Ensure programs managed by Council achieve the objectives of Council’s access and equity guidelines.

The skills and experience you’ll bring to the role:

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the requirements and needs of children with additional needs and high-level observation, and assessment skills around typical and atypical child development. Knowledge of trauma informed practice principles and expertise in responding to the diversity of children especially from vulnerable backgrounds and CALD communities.
• Demonstrated skills in capacity building, engaging and empowering early years educators to support the inclusion of all children with additional needs, with practical and theoretical knowledge of both program planning and program delivery in kindergarten settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Victorian Child Safe standards and reporting obligations in line with the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
• Demonstrated ability to provide high quality observational reports and recommendations to Early Childhood educators and families; knowledge and commitment to the principles and practice principles of inclusion, family centred, and a strength based framework.
• Understanding of National Quality Standards (NQS) and current teaching methods in early childhood settings including current regulations and legislation.
• A high level of written and oral communication skills with the ability to present succinct and precise information to staff and families.
• Extensive teaching experience, knowledge and understanding pertaining to the development of all children including specific knowledge relating to children with additional needs.

Required Certifications & Qualifications

• Four year Early Childhood Teaching Degree, Bachelor Education (Early Childhood) or equivalent Early Childhood qualification with a minimum of 10 years experience and additional qualifications in Early Childhood Intervention.
• Current Victorian Driver's License.
• Current Working with Children Check
• Current driver’s licence.

Why Hume City Council?

A leader in local government, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is guided by our values:

We’re better, every day We give things a go and value progress over perfection. We have permission to go for it and are expected to reflect and learn.

We’re in it together At Hume, everyone matters. We Welcome and include all. Respect and safety are expected.

We show up We empower and trust others and own our work. We rise to the challenges and are expected to do what we say we will.

All for Hume We strive to achieve our best for the Hume Community. We are proud and passionate about working towards better outcomes and expect they are at the centre of everything we do.

We offer a competitive salary package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

A child safe organisation and an equal opportunity employer. Council encourages people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

All candidates will be required to undertake background and probity checks including Reference Checks, Working with Children Check, and a Criminal Record Check.

For any queries, please contact us at careers@hume.vic.gov.au

Applications will be reviewed progressively throughout the advertising period. This role may close once a sufficient number of suitable applicants has been received. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as early as possible.