About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Early Childhood Improvement Division

The Early Childhood Improvement Branch ensures a dedicated team supports early childhood providers and services in Areas. The Branch has multiple responsibilities, including supporting funded early childhood services, kindergarten programs and the implementation of the suite of Early Childhood reforms including, Pre-Prep, three-year-old kindergarten, School Readiness Funding and various other key eatly childhood policies.The branch drives improvement in quality service provision and outcomes for children across the early childhood sector.

About the Role

The Kindergarten Improvement Advisor will need to draw on experience and knowledge in an early learning context, administration of early childhood services and current pedagogical practices. To be successful in this role you should have excellent interpersonal, influencing, and analytical skills. You will possess a strong understanding of quality early childhood pedagogical practices and a strong knowledge of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). You will play a lead role in strengthening early childhood service collaboration, which will support services through a time of significant reform activity, help create a culture of trust and reflection, and improve transitions for children and families between early childhood services and school.

Key responsibilities of the role may include:

• Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with funded kindergarten providers and services
• Applying problem-solving skills to manage problems and decisions
• Using data and evidence to identify and address the needs of the services as it relates to educationally disadvantaged children
• Fostering the development of collaborative relationships widely in the community
• Understanding current research and developments in the early childhood sector, identifying implications and opportunities
• Coordinating and facilitaing networks and forums
• Implementing quality assurance measures to ensure that early childhood reforms are delivered in line with Departmental requirements
• Providing support, tools and advice to early childhood service providers to assist them to develop plans in response to their identified challenges in delivering early childhood reforms
• Advising and supporting funded kindergartens to plan the best use of School Readiness Funding.
• Working collaboratively as part of a team and supervises other team members as agreed with the Early Childhood Improvement Branch Manager
• Understanding the needs of individual funded kindergarten services and identify opportunities for reform efforts to improve educational outcomes
• Overseeing quality assurance mechanisms used to monitor implementation of the reforms
• Identify and document program or project risks and issues and develop effective management strategies
• Providing leadership to funded kindergarten services and be an identified point of escalation for issues and challenges
• Using appropriate planning and monitoring tools to track implementation of the early childhood reforms.

Attributes

The ideal candidate will have strong project and program management skills and use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to provide innovative solutions to complex issues. They will be able to build and develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and work collaboratively within a team. They will also have the skills to effectively analyse data and utilise this to inform decision making and be able to work proactively and independently within a dynamic work environment.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Early Childhood or other relevant tertiary qualification

Desirable : Recent relevant experience in a leadership role within an Early Childhood setting or other clearly relevant transferable experience, knowledge and skills

The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check

How to Apply

Applications should include:

• a resume (no more than 2-pages) and
• a cover letter that outlines why you are suitable for the role with reference to the requirements of the role attributes and Key Selection Criteria (no more than three pages)

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Nicola McCaul, Manager, Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Bayside Peninsula Area via (03) 8766 5631 or [email protected]

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 7 May 2025