About Early Learning Victoria

The Victorian Government is establishing 50 government-owned and operated early learning centres by 2032 as part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms. The centres will offer childcare, Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep. The centres will provide high-quality, accessible and inclusive early childhood education and care that is child centred, focused on learning through play and in nature, with strong connections to local communities.

Early Learning Victoria's central office is in the Victorian Department of Education. The central team is leading the roll-out of the 50 centres and will support and oversee centre operations once they open.

Staff in the Early Learning Victoria centres will be part of a new Victorian government-employed early childhood workforce. We are committed to creating a supportive and enriching work environment for our employees, offering a range of benefits and opportunities for professional growth and development.
Early Learning Victoria is committed to Child Safety and the safeguarding of children from harm.

Location Profile

Educational Leader - Early Learning Victoria Wimbi

Salary: $86,037 - $109,521

Early Learning Victoria is establishing a government-owned early learning and childcare centre at Moomba Park Primary School in Fawkner. Opened in 2025, this 130-place centre offers childcare, and Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, eventually transitioning to include Pre-Prep.

Role Purpose

The Educational Leader is responsible for leading the centre to provide high quality early childhood education and care by ensuring that staff within the centre work in accordance with the National Quality Standards, approved learning frameworks, the Child Safe Standards and in line with Early Learning Victoria's (ELV's) philosophy and practice guide.

The Educational Leader is an integral part of the centre leadership team, responsible for ensuring the centre delivers on key organisational and local pedagogical priorities and will develop strong educational practices across all programs and partnerships onsite.

The Educational Leader will also oversee the service integration portfolio at the centre and work strategically with community partners and the co-located school (where applicable) to ensure effective and meaningful uptake and utilisation of additional services and to support continuity of learning for children.

Key responsibilities

· Guides and monitors a standard of educational programs that uphold all elements of the Early Learning Victoria philosophy, the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, Child Safe Standards, the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations and the National Quality Standards

· Coaches and mentors across the centre to promote a strong culture of ongoing learning and continuous improvement through reflective practices and continuous cycle of feedback and self-evaluation

· Actively contributes to the centres quality improvement process

· Builds respectful relationships with families, staff and relevant community partners

· Coordinates an environment where children can flourish and thrive, informed by contemporary research evidence and practices

· Communicates with staff, families, children and stakeholders ensuring that all children feel safe and valued within supportive learning environments

· Ensures all legislative requirements, policies and procedures are met

Capabilities

Educational Program and Practice: Coaches, mentors and guides staff in the implementation of the educational program in accordance with the ELV educational program policy. Role models evidence informed practices to support positive child outcomes and inclusion. Ensures effective documentation of the educational program across the centre supports team and individual reflective practices and the planning cycle. Is cognisant of different strengths, abilities and learning styles for both children and adults so that approaches can be individualised dependant on their needs.

High Quality Practice: Is committed to providing learning environments where children can flourish and thrive, supported by evidence-informed pedagogy and practice that upholds all elements of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations and the National Quality Standards and is guided by the philosophy of Early Learning Victoria.

Compliance and Child Safety: Ensures the centre, educational program and practices are compliant with all aspects of the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, National Quality Standards, Child Safe Standards, Approved Frameworks and all Early Learning Victoria policies and procedures.

Service Integration and inclusion: Establishes collaborative communities and fosters effective partnerships and inclusion. Engages stakeholders at various levels and from a range of sectors including local government, not-for-profit and community organisations. Leads service integration planning and assists in establishing frameworks, processes and procedures to guide service integration, inclusion and co-location within ELV services.

Communication: Utilises effective communication skills to develop and maintain meaningful relationships with staff, families, children and other partners and stakeholders, fostering a supportive and collaborative centre environment. Promotes respectful relationships and conflict resolution.

Personal Attributes: Demonstrates the public sector values of responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.

Flexibility and adaptability: Operates well in a flexible and changing environment and manages workload efficiently to meet the centre's needs. Demonstrates initiative and seeks guidance and direction from senior colleagues when unsure.

Working Collaboratively: Supports a culture of collaboration within the centre and builds effective relationships with stakeholders and the community to maximise impact of the centre.

Leadership: Leads the development and implementation of educational programs across the centre to ensure that practice is aligned with ELVs educational program policy, ELVs philosophy, the National Quality Standards and approved frameworks. Drives centre improvement by assessing strengths and areas for growth in accordance with the Quality Improvement Plan.

Leads organisational objectives, such as the shared practice guide and quality measurements, to drive continuous improvement through practice support and formal and informal coaching and mentoring.

As part of the centre leadership team, actively contributes to the centres quality improvement process, identifying key strengths and key areas for improvement and leads the educational program and practice improvements identified in the Quality Improvement Plan. Support practice through utilising formal and informal coaching and mentoring opportunities.

Maintain effective professional networking to keep up to date with contemporary research and innovative practice.

Together with centre leadership, support local community connections with the centre.

Promotes a learning culture by prioritising reflective practice and maintaining a continuous cycle of self-evaluation and improvement.

Selection Criteria

Criteria 1: Demonstrates the Child Safety and Compliance role requirements

Criteria 2: Personal Attributes please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Criteria 3: High Quality Practice and Educational Programs and Practice - please see the Role Requirements section above for more detail.

Criteria 4: Leadership - please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Conditions of Employment

For more information about the role and Early Learning Victoria please contact Helen Wolfe, Manager Quality & Practice on 03 8904 2693.

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.

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 Sunday 08 June 2025.

Who May Apply

Experience required will include

· Demonstrated experience as an Educational Leader, delivering high-quality play-based educational programs

· Minimum 2 years pedagogical leadership experience

· Practical knowledge of the Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework, Child Safe Standards, the Education Care Services National Law and Regulations and the National Quality Framework

· Effective communication and relationship-building skills with staff, children, families and communities

· Experience working with vulnerable children and families is desirable

Specific skills/qualifications required

· ACECQA approved Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

· Early Childhood Teaching Degree (preferred but not required)

· Valid `Employee' Working with Children Check (or full VIT registration)

· Willingness to consent to a National Police Check (to be arranged by Early Learning Victoria)

· International Police Check required if resided outside of Australia for 12 months or more during the last 10 years

· First Aid, anaphylaxis and asthma qualifications

· Protecting Children Mandatory Reporting online learning