AddressAre you passionate about supporting families and children in high-needs areas? The Connect Up Program in the City of Greater Geelong focuses on children aged 0-12 years, using a place-based model to integrate services within the community. We engage with kindergartens, schools, community centers, and child and community hubs to provide seamless transitions for families.
Our mission is to increase parent/carer involvement in their child’s early years, empower universal services staff, and enhance the capacity of services to work collaboratively. This integration aims to build strong, sustainable, and connected children, families, and communities.
We are part of the Early HelpFamily Services Trial, a small team from BCYF – Bethany Limited (Meli Community) and Cultura. As a team member, you will provide a place-based response for families with children attending Northern Bay College or with infants and young children in the surrounding area. You'll collaborate closely with Our Place, Korayn Birralee Family Centre, and other services. This is a DFFH trial program funded until 30th June 2025.
In this role, you'll offer a Family Services response focused on leveraging individual and community strengths. You'll help to intervene early, providing a range of community-based programs designed to reduce disadvantage, drive social change, and improve outcomes for under-resourced families.
The key objectives of this role are:
- Increased parental confidence and competent to response positively to parenting challenges.
- Increased parental and child wellbeing
- Improved participation of children in maternal and child health, kindergartens, school and community
- increased social and community connections of parents
- increased collaboration with universal services staff to support families and emerging needs
- Fixed term till 30 June 2025
- 1 FTE (38 hours per week)
- $94,077 p/a + Super + Salary Packaging
- To view the Position Description, please click here
- Flexible working options
- Meli is a not-for-profit organisation, so you can salary package up to $15,900 each Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) year for general living expenses
- A workplace passionate about diversity and inclusion with Employee Led inclusion working groups open to all employees
- Extensive learning & development opportunities and pathways for career progression
- Employee Assistance Program – independent confidential counselling service
- A dynamic culture of dedicated, passionate and professional team members
- Paid parental leave program, in addition to the government parental leave scheme
- Ability to purchase up to 4 weeks additional leave
To be successful in the role, you will have:
- A tertiary qualification in Early Years, Social Work, Psychology or other related Behavioural Sciences at degree or diploma level and a minimum of 12 months experience.
- Demonstrated experience in the development and facilitation of Community Development activities and group work programs such as peer-based support groups for parents, supported playgroups, community events, parent education groups.
- Demonstrated capacity to engage with children and parents and knowledge and experience in providing a range of family interventions including individual family support and group work.
- Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrated capacity to work with high degree of autonomy in a co-located universal setting with competing priorities and a changing work environment.
- Proficient in the use of MS Office, databases and knowledge of a range of IT programs.
- Applicants must address each of the Qualifications, Skills and Experience criteria outlined in the following questionnaire and provide a current Résumé in order to be considered.
- Successful applicants will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check and undergo a National Police Check prior to commencement.
- Meli reserves the right to shortlist and interview before the closing date of this position, so please don’t delay in applying.
For more information about the position please contact Julie Molloy, Manager, Early Years Education & Community, 0422 141 ***.
Meli is committed to providing a child safe environment. We have zero tolerance of any abuse or maltreatment of children.
Meli values and celebrates diversity and are working to create a team of people who reflect the diverse community we support. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse people, those living with a disability, and those looking to return to the workforce following a break in their career are encouraged to apply for our roles.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment process, please email us at ***********@meli.org.au or call the Meli Candidate Accessibility Help Line on 0492 867 *** to discuss how we can best support you.
Applications close 5:00pm Tuesday 2 July 2024
V.I.D 2401249
