Pedagogical Leader – Safe Haven Initiative

• Full-time, maximum-term position to December 2025
• Research Project – Intensive Early Childhood Education and Care Program
• Unique opportunity supporting children living with significant adversity

About the opportunity

Uniting, in partnership with Victorian Department of Education and Parkville Institute are preparing to open a research centre providing an intensive early childhood education and care program. This service located in Richmond will seek to determine whether children, recruited with the same eligibility criteria as those in previous trials, can achieve the same remarkable learning and development outcomes. This will be one of four research sites established in Australia.

This service will work with a multidisciplinary leadership team  to ensure the program is implemented with fidelity. The service will operate with lower child to staff ratios, with a maximum of 42 children attending 5 hours per day, Monday to Friday and with educators and teachers employed full-time.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute significantly to research that could shape the future of the early childhood sector in Australia.

‘The intensive early childhood education and care program being used in this Uniting Vic.Tas innovative centre uses an evidence-informed and practical approach for supporting families and improving children’s outcomes so that vulnerable children enter school as confident learners on par with their peers.’ – Dr Anne Kennedy

View the full position description here.

About you

The Pedagogical Leader of this research replication site will have significant experience (minimum of 5 years) in mentoring and leadership, being a proven leader of services that provide the highest quality programs to children and their families.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, you will be experienced working with families and children living with severe adversity and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills when engaging with all stakeholders.

A clear interest and / or experience in research and working with multidisciplinary teams is a must for this role.

About the Centre

We are a located in a central part of Richmond, close to public transport and have been a part of the local community educating and caring for children for over 100 years. We have large natural outdoor play spaces for children to access from all classrooms to support children to play, explore and engage with the natural environment.

We have a strong emphasis of building staff leadership and knowledge-based capacity with regular high quality professional development and ongoing mentor partnerships with leading experts in pedagogy, family support and infant/children’s mental health and wellbeing.

We have embedded staff wellbeing practices with regular reflective supervision, a close social team, access to a well-resourced Employee Wellbeing Program (EAP) ongoing support from a diverse multi-disciplinary leadership team.

Benefits

• Negotiable above award rate remuneration based on experience and qualifications
• Salary packaging available
• Set shifts (8:30am – 4:30pm)
• Closed for two weeks over the Christmas / New Year Period
• 60% discount on CCS Gap Fees for children enrolled in other Uniting Early   Learning Service that receive Childcare Subsidy
• Be a part of a multidisciplinary leadership team alongside the Centre Director, Family Support Practitioner and Infant Mental Health Consultant
• Contribute to research and practice that will change the life trajectories of children and families experiencing significant adversity.

How to apply

If this sounds like you, apply today by submitting:

• Cover letter (1 page outlining your suitability according to the position description)
• Current resume (no more than 3 pages).

Applications close on Friday the 30th of December 2022.

Get in touch

For more information regarding this position, please contact Carla Young, Centre Director on 0403 726 151 during business hours or via carla.young@vt.uniting.org.

About Uniting

At Uniting we are passionate about working together to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

Visit us:www.vt.uniting.org

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a ‘child safe’ organisation, employment with Uniting is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check in your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking. It is a condition of employment that all eligible workforce in Victoria receive the COVID-19 vaccination and supporting evidence may be requested in order to perform duties at any of Uniting’s workplaces.

Uniting is also committed to equal opportunity and ensuring the workplace is reflective of the community. We encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.