Playgroup Facilitator

• Permanent Part-Time, 30.4 hours per week
• $83,714.28 per annum (pro rata) plus Superannuation
• Join the Family Youth & Children team

Hume City Council is one of Australia’s fastest growing and culturally diverse councils. We put the customer and our community at the centre of all that we do, ensuring our services are efficient and accessible.

We are seeking a highly skilled playgroup facilitator who has the capacity to deliver the Smalltalk curriculum to families in Hume. Smalltalk playgroups provide vulnerable families with young children, opportunities to play, learn and grow while supporting parents and carers to build their parenting capacity.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide welcoming and engaging environments which are responsive to all children and their families in playgroups throughout Hume City Council.
• Network and develop partnerships with key local stakeholders, internal departments within council and community support services to develop referral pathways for disadvantaged families.
• Support provision of a family centred service which offers parents information and advice.
• Communicate respectfully and effectively with families using accessible and clear language and resources.
• Model and support developmentally appropriate play experiences and parent/child interactions during supported playgroups and during In–Home Support sessions.
• Maintain accurate records and information/data regarding supported playgroups as required by Hume City Council and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).
• Contribute to data collection and reporting of supported playgroups to ensure that key performance indicators for the position and the team are met.
• Support outcomes for children described in the Victorian Early Years Learning Development Framework (VEYLDF 2016) and the National Quality Framework (NQF)
• Facilitate use of flexible programming approaches that are responsive to individual family and child needs.

The skills and experience you’ll bring to the role:

• Knowledge of and expertise in issues related to the needs of families and young children.
• Demonstrated ability in working with families in a setting relevant to this position, specifically children 0-6 years.
• Demonstrated knowledge of early childhood and family support services systems.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships and partnerships with diverse community and service providers to ensure that the Supported Playgroups funding is used within guidelines and according to demonstrated need.
• Demonstrated experience in working with families and young children.
• Knowledge of child protection legislation, in particular the Child Youth and Families Act 2005.
• Demonstrated knowledge in parenting and parenting related issues.
• Understanding and aligning of practice with the goals of Family and Children’s Services and Hume City Council.
• Demonstrated well developed verbal and written communication skills with team members and to families from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in modelling and supporting the delivery of playgroup programs.
• Experience providing in home support or similar family support sessions to build parent capacity.

Required Certifications & Qualifications

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications, minimum Diploma level in social science, early childhood services or social work with relevant experience.  
• Current driver’s licence, Working with Children Check and Police Check.

Why Hume City Council?

A leader in local government, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is guided by our values:

We’re better, every day: We give things a go and value progress over perfection. We have permission to go for it and are expected to reflect and learn.

We’re in it together: At Hume, everyone matters. We Welcome and include all. Respect and safety are expected.

We show up: We empower and trust others and own our work. We rise to the challenges and are expected to do what we say we will.

All for Hume: We strive to achieve our best for the Hume Community. We are proud and passionate about working towards better outcomes and expect they are at the centre of everything we do.

We offer a competitive salary package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

A child safe organisation and an equal opportunity employer. Council encourages people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

All candidates will be required to undertake background and probity checks including Reference Checks, Working with Children Check, and a Criminal Record Check.