About us

Lady Forster Kindergarten (LFK) is a busy, two-room, 49-place, community kindergarten located on the foreshore of Elwood. Our unique location provides children with a beach/bush setting right on their doorstep and our programs encourage children’s deep immersion in the natural world, including weekly bush/beach walks.

We are a parent-managed, not-for-profit kindergarten, with a rich 100-year history and an outstanding reputation. We value excellence, inclusion, engagement and integrity in our work with children, families and our local community, and we support our friendly, professional and capable team to thrive.

We have achieved a consistent rating of ‘Exceeding’ the National Quality Standards for nearly a decade, and in the past six years, have achieved this rating across all seven Quality Areas.

Our programs include:

• 3YO & 4YO Sessional Kindergarten
• Extended Hours (Long Day) Kindergarten
• Occasional Care/Friday Care Program
• Term Holiday Programs

Work days/hours of the role:

Permanent, Full-Time role:
Working hours generally 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, daily.
Kindergarten operating hours: 7.30 am – 6.00 pm.

The role:
This is a rare opportunity for an Early Childhood Program Leader to join our small, friendly team of high-quality teachers and educators.

The Program Leader will work across several programs including:

• Lead the ‘closing team’ in this program, Monday-Friday.
• Support the weekly bush/beach walk outings on Mon/Tues.

• Extended Hours Kindergarten program Monday-Thursday during term time.
• Develop, implement and lead the ‘Friday Care Program’ every Friday during term-time.
• Develop, implement and lead the ‘Holiday Program’ in each term break, managing a small team of educators.

About You:

The role may well suit a variety of applicants including:

• A seasoned and experienced Diploma educator
• Graduate teachers with minimum 2-3 years’ experience seeking program leadership experience
• Experienced teachers looking to step back from the full responsibilities and demands of teaching

Qualifications:
Minimum - Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care;

OR Bachelor of Early Childhood Education;

OR equivalent ACECQA-approved qualification.

Requirements:

This is a significant role at LFK and candidates must have:

• A similar Program Leader role.

• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in an early childhood setting, preferably in a leadership role.
• Minimum qualifications (see above)
• Working with Children Check and National Police Check, OR VIT registration
• ACECQA-approved First Aid qualifications:
  (HLTAID012 First Aid course, CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis training)
• Current Training Certificate in ‘Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting’
• Sound knowledge of Early Childhood development, EYLF, and VEYLDF Early Years Frameworks, the National Quality Standards and the Child Safe Standards.
• Reasonable knowledge of the National Law and Regulations.
• Australian residency or full rights to work in Australia.
• A friendly, team-oriented attitude and the ability to work with different age groups in various settings and to foster warm, reciprocal relationships with children and families.
• An understanding of the provision of a safe, well planned, welcoming and stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environment that promotes learning and exploration.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional supervision skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Prior experience with planning and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and programs for young children.

Desirable but not essential:

Prior experience in:

• Bush/beach/outdoor/nature-based kindergarten programs.
• A community, not for profit, kindergarten setting.
• Working with diversity amongst children including children with additional needs or with behaviour that can be challenging.
• Working in/leading Holiday programs with children aged 3-7 years.

Ideally you will live locally, within easy travelling distance of Elwood.

Benefits:

• The role is available for an immediate start.
• Join a highly regarded community kindergarten with an established reputation.
• Work with a team focussed on the development and wellbeing of children.
• Work in close harmony with the natural world in engaging and inviting indoor and outdoor spaces on the foreshore of Elwood Beach.
• Experience warm support and mentoring from a dedicated Educational Leader and highly experienced teachers.
• Support for career development in a role that draws on all your early childhood experience, natural leadership and management skills where you will be challenged to develop further, with sole charge/program leadership responsibilities.

(e.g. The prior Program Leader in this role started with LFK as a Diploma-qualified educator, progressing into the Program Leader role whilst being supported to complete an ECT qualification, and is now working as a teacher at LFK)

• implementing play-based learning principles in a natural setting
• Showing deep respect for the voices of children
• Reflecting on continuous improvement.

• Work in a small team with an embedded approach to:
• Team and individual professional development opportunities including support for study towards qualifications.
• Generous time allocated for planning, documentation, reflection and collaboration.
• Remuneration at AGL or ECT level hourly rates - VECTEA Award.

‘Above Award’ rates are provisioned for this role, reflecting individual experience/qualification. Additional leave through the year may also be provided for staff wellbeing, to supplement the annual leave period in Dec/Jan during the annual closure of the kindergarten.

• Annual Staff Bonus.
• Parking permit for free parking at Elwood Beach carpark.

To apply:

Please email your resume and cover letter to The Kindergarten Manager, Lady Forster Kindergarten.
E: [email protected]

Lady Forster Kindergarten is committed to an inclusive workforce, celebrating the diversity of our staff, families and local community. We warmly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.

We are committed to children’s safety and well-being in all aspects of our operation and organisational culture, and operate strictly in accordance with the Child Safe Standards and legislation.