Early Childhood Educator - Team Leader

Early Childhood Educator - Team Leader – Hawthorn Early Years

Hawthorn Early Years (HEY) is located in the Hawthorn Community Precinct in the Boroondara Council shire on Wurundjeri Land.

About us                                                                                                          

At Hawthorn Early Years we teach children to love learning so they never stop growing.

Hawthorn Early Years (HEY) is a not for profit community based service that boasts spacious and light filled rooms with lots of natural light, large outdoor spaces, a beautiful peppercorn tree, vegetable gardens, mud pits and a communal area which houses pet turtles and fish. With a diverse range of cultural backgrounds amongst our teaching teams and children, we love exploring cultural differences, as well as embracing various holidays and celebrations throughout the year. Situated close to public transport, the local library and primary schools which provides opportunities to take the children out and about on excursions and to enjoy great connections with the surrounding community.

HEY values professionalism, and we are committed to investing in our staff and encouraging career progression. Our daily contexts and quality improvement practices also contribute to ongoing learning and development and therefore, professional identity as a team. HEY employs two full time Educational Leaders to support the teaching teams in recognition of the clear link between leadership and improved outcomes for children.

Our Philosophy

At Hawthorn Early Years (HEY) we recognise the importance of childhood in building the foundations for future learning and citizenship in an ever-changing world. We recognise children as bearers of rights, capable and competent of participating in society through their relationships with others. Our practices are influenced by the principles of Pikler and RIE.  HEY prides itself on being recognised as a dynamic and innovative Early Childhood service that is responsive to all children, both as individuals and within groups. Our teachers and educators are supporting children to develop the skills and dispositions they will need to thrive in the 21st century. 

Our Vision for Reconciliation

HEY’s vision for reconciliation is that we develop an authentic national culture that recognises the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional owners of the land that is now called Australia. We want to be a country that represents equality and equity, historical acceptance of our shared history and removal of negative race relations. At HEY we believe that reconciliation is something that should live within all of us, heart, head, hands and spirit, actioning this throughout all programs and environments so that all Australians can keep moving forward to a strong, respectful nation which embraces all communities together.

About the role

We are looking for a full timeTeam Leader. 

Working closely with your classroom team and designated Educational Leader, you will enjoy;

• Supporting the development and implementation of curriculum in collaboration with team members to maximise each child’s development and learning.
• Supporting each child to participate in the educational program.
• Supporting assessment of each child’s learning and development.
• Contributing to the development and ongoing implementation and review of the services Quality Improvement Plan.
• Have a commitment to following all our Child Safety policies and procedures and adhering to our zero tolerance for child abuse and harm.

Hawthorn Early Years has zero tolerance for child abuse and any harm resulting from discrimination based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, intersex status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

We are committed to the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of all children including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those with a disability. 

The Candidate 

We are looking for an educator who see children as individuals who are capable and competent learners and their teaching role as working alongside children to provide opportunities that encourage, motivate and challenge children to explore and experiment in their own way and their own time. We want a strong leader who values their teams individualities and is able to mentor, support and inspire them on a daily basis, whilst ensuring everyone is accountable for the role they play in the classroom and the service

You will have:

• Minimum Diploma in Early Childhood Education as approved by ACECQA
• First Aid Qualifications and up to date COVID 19 vaccinations
• Proven knowledge of the National Quality Framework and VEYLDF
• A valid Working with Children’s Check 

Preferred skills

• A growth mindset
• Past experience working in collaborative teams

Future earning opportunity

Hawthorn Early Years is part of the first ever multi-employer bargaining group in not only the Early Years sector but across all industries. We are working in collaboration with many other peak bodies and 61 other services, Australian wide, to ensure our employees will be the first to benefit from a significant increase in wages and supported professional development. 

Benefits of Working at HEY

• We are proud to share that Hawthorn Early Years is a part of the first group of employers who has signed on to be a part of the governments new pilot program of a Multi Employer Bargaining Agreement (MEB). Through the MEB the government is making a commitment to subsidise a portion of educator wages to support increased educator wages across the sector. The government is still in negotiations about what exactly this will look like, however we are hopeful that in the near future we will be able to announce a wage increase for all HEY employees.
   
• Attractive remuneration packages with above CSA award pay rates.
• Highly committed staff with excellent retention and culture
• Operate each classroom above ratio 
• Classroom are rostered as individual spaces and not as a whole service so minimal family grouping
• Minimum 4 hours - 1 day planning provided for all Team Leaders
• Additional classroom planning for all educators
• Childcare discounts and access to our employee assistance program
• Access to paid innovative professional development, coaching and mentoring
• High-quality, spacious, well-resourced environments for children and educators
• Monthly RDO’s for full-time staff
• Christmas closure for 2 weeks
• 2 Child free days one for pack up and one for set up per year
• 1 child free Professional Development days during the year
• Paid first aid training
• Supportive of educators undertaking further studies
• Salary sacrifice opportunities 

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact ****@hey.org.au/ 9819-2326. For more information about the service please visit our website  www.hey.org.au

Please indicate on your cover letter that you are applying for the Educator role.