About the service:

Starfish Early Learning Centre is a well-established organisation of 16 years, with several services across Melbourne. Our Essendon centre opened in July 2024 so is still in its infancy, and while the numbers are quiet at the moment we are slowly building occupancy.

We educate and care for children from 6 weeks through to kindergarten within our community. Our service employs people who are committed to Early Childhood Education, have a genuine love for children and those who are continually reflecting, learning and dedicated to improvement.

Statement of our Commitment to Child Safety.

At Starfish ELC, we have a zero tolerance for Child abuse, and believe all children have the right to feel safe, secure and happy.

We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion and will not tolerate discriminatory practices or behaviour. We actively work to listen to and empower children.

We have policies and systems in place to protect children from abuse and are committed to regularly training and educating our educators, staff and volunteers on child abuse risks.

We take all allegations of abuse very seriously and respond to them consistently, in line with our policies and procedures.

We are committed to promoting cultural safety of Aboriginal children, cultural safety of children of Cultural and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

We are committed to critically reflecting on our practices, and collaborating with others to see different perspectives.

“In its planning, decision-making and operations Starfish ELC will

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;

2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;

3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children

4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;

5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;

6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;

7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;

8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;

9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and

10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.”

About the positions:

We are seeking a casual educator who enjoys working with all age groups. This is a flexible position, supporting different rooms at different times - perfect for those that like variety in their work day.

Initially the available work hours will be sporadic while we build our enrolment numbers, but with our Reservoir centre nearby, there could be supplemental shifts available for the right candidate who needs more hours.

You could be part of a dynamic & professional team working in a supportive and stimulating environment with great resources and a passion for professional learning and development.

The successful candidates will:

- be reliable, motivated, have a genuine interest in children's learning possibilities

- be committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children as per the Child Safe Standards, our Child Protection Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct

- have excellent communication skills

- hold a certificate 3, diploma qualification or be working towards a diploma qualification

- have had at least 6 months working with children up to 5 years old and have an understanding of the requirements of working with younger children

- be flexible in your work environment and have the ability to work in a team

- be available a minimum of 3 days per week between the hours of 7am and 6pm (please note that the shift times will vary, but are 8.5 hours (with 1 hour unpaid lunch break and a paid 20 minute tea break). We are unable to accommodate educators who can only work during school hours (ie 9:00-3:00)

- be available to attend out of hours meetings and professional learning opportunities

- be a motivated and enthusiastic person who is willing to contribute to our fun, educational and engaging program

- be committed to continuous improvement, open feedback and professional development.

You will be working with a positive, caring, dedicated and supportive team in a centre with a focus on wellbeing and where we encourage team work and communication. We value collaboration, learning, leadership, belonging and joy.

Our Educators are highly valued and paid above award wages, and supported in their work with children and their lives. We offer a 80% discount on childcare gap fees for educators, an Employee Assistance Program and opportunities to participate in social and fundraising events.

You will also be required to have a current Employee Working With Children Check.

Please email applications to [email protected] and be sure to identify the centre you are applying for.