Certificate III Early Childhood Educator - Fixed Contract 4 months

Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Inc is a 54-place parent-managed, community-based not-for-profit Childcare Centre and Kindergarten located in Thornbury, Victoria 3071. Merri is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where children feel secure, supported and inspired to learn.

As an Exceeding Rated Service, we are seeking a passionate, motivated and values-driven Diploma Qualified Educator (or above) to join our dedicated team in a permanent ongoing role commencing as soon as possible.

As a Cert III Early Childhood Educator, you will:

• Support the delivery of high-quality education and care in line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

• Build warm, respectful and collaborative relationships with children, families and colleagues

• Create safe, engaging and inclusive learning environments that support children's learning and wellbeing

• Observe, document and contribute to children's learning, development and educational programs

• Actively contribute to a child-safe culture, including effective supervision, professional boundaries and safe practices

• Work collaboratively with educators, families and leadership to achieve positive outcomes for children

• Comply with all regulatory, safeguarding, reporting and professional obligations

• Contribute to planning and programming for children aged 0-5 years (where applicable)

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Minimum an approved Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent (no working towards)

• A genuine passion for working with children and families

• Strong knowledge of child development, inclusive practice and the Early Years Learning Framework

• The ability to observe, document and assess children's learning and development

• Knowledge of the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 and National Regulations 2011

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Experience and strong organisational skills, initiative and the ability to work with minimal supervision

• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Word and StoryPark (preferred)

• A commitment to child safety, well-being and professional conduct

• Reliability, sound judgement and alignment with our service values

• The physical capacity to perform the responsibilities of a Qualified Educator

Applicants must have:

• Approved Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or equivalent qualification in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Regulations

• Current Working with Children Check

• Current Police Check (less than six months old)

• Unrestricted working rights in Australia. (Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position)

• Two professional referees, including your current or most recent employer

Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Inc is a Child Safe Organisation with zero tolerance for harm to children. We are committed to promoting and protecting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.

All appointments are subject to:

• Working with Children Check verification

• Right to work in Australia verification (unrestricted)

• Qualification checks

• Police checks

• Reference checks, including child-safe screening questions

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and applicants from diverse backgrounds.

• Four-month contract Full-Time position with a 9-Day Fortnight

• PCS 2025 (Professional Community Standard 2025)

• Working at an Exceeding Rated Centre

• Above-ratio staffing levels

• Fortnightly Rostered Day Off (RDO)

• Three hours of programming and planning time with your educator team (where applicable)

• Rotating shifts

• Excellent educational resources

• Ongoing professional learning and development opportunities

• A supportive and experienced leadership team

• A highly engaged parent committee

• Mentoring, supervision and clear professional expectations

• Salary and conditions in accordance with the Professional Childcare Standards 2021 Agreement - Level 3

Interested applicants must submit the following;

• A detailed cover letter addressing the key selection criteria outlined in the Position Description (in Word or PDF format only)

• Current resume (in Word or PDF format only)

Interested applicants are more than welcome to arrange a visit to the Centre prior to applying by appointment only.

Electronic applications can be emailed to:

***************@kindergarten.vic.gov.au

Hard copy applications can be posted or dropped off to:

Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Inc
313 St Georges Road
Thornbury VIC 3071

For further information and a copy of the Position Description, visit our website, www.merriccc.com.au

Please note that applications may close earlier if a suitable candidate is identified, as interviews will be conducted progressively throughout the advertising period.

We encourage interested applicants to submit their application as soon as possible.

To be considered for shortlisting, applicants must submit both a cover letter and a current resume in Word or PDF format. Applications that do not include both documents will not be considered.

Applicants must hold full and unrestricted working rights in Australia, including no restrictions on the number of hours they can work or the duration of their work eligibility. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

As a small, community-based service with a long-standing and stable team, we place significant value on continuity and long-term commitment to support the ongoing wellbeing of our children, families, and service. When recruiting for permanent positions, we therefore seek candidates who can offer certainty and stability in their employment arrangements.

Please note: We respectfully request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy.

We look forward to receiving your application.