Storyteller - Redfern / Parramatta / Bidwill

• Location: The role will be based at our Redfern and Parramatta centres and occasionally at our new Bidwill (Mount Druitt) centre. It will also involve extensive weekly travel to schools across Sydney and Western Sydney.  
• Term: Full-time, 38 hours per week. 
• Reports to: School Programs Manager
• Direct Reports: 0
• Salary: $91,494pa plus superannuation. Fringe benefit is available, providing up to $16k per year tax free, if eligible. For more information, click here. The role is for two years, renewable, with a three month probation period.

ABOUT STORY FACTORY

At Story Factory, we believe that stories can change lives. We focus on enriching the lives of young people in under-resourced communities through quality creative writing programs, improving their writing skills, increasing their confidence and expanding their future prospects. Reading is access but writing is agency.

Story Factory runs a wide variety of fun and engaging creative writing programs at primary and high schools across Sydney and Western Sydney, at our centres in Redfern and Parramatta, and digitally across Australia. We have also just opened a new centre in Bidwill, Mount Druitt in April 2026.

Since opening in 2012, our achievements include:

• 75,000+ student enrolments, with more than 9,000 enrolments in 2025;
• 15% of student are Indigenous and 49% are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• Recognition of our work with multiple awards, including a Secretary’s Award for Excellence in the 2018 Public Education Foundation Awards, and Executive Director and Co-founder Catherine Keenan AM being named the 2016 Australian of the Year Local Hero.

We are currently in the fourth year of a five-year strategy that will see us grow the reach and impact of our work. A key part of this was opening our new hub for our work in Bidwill, Mount Druitt in April 2026, to consolidate and deepen the work we’ve been doing in that area for many years.

If you would like further information visit: https://www.storyfactory.org.au/ or read through the following documents (please note, you will not be expected to have read these for the interview).

• To view the Theory of Change, click here.
• To view the current strategic plan, click here.
• To view the Story Factory Reconciliation Action Plan, click here.
• To view the latest Annual Report, click here.

OUR VALUES

• Young people come first.
• Writing is agency.
• Creativity unleashes potential.
• Diversity makes us better.
• We have high expectations of ourselves and the young people we work with.
• We have heart. Passion matters.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Storyteller position is an educator role that requires a student-centred approach to fulfil Story Factory’s mission of developing the creativity, literacy and voice of young people. It involves leading and facilitating creative writing workshops with students in high school and primary school, either in-person or online, at schools or at our centres.

The position involves working across our Redfern, Bidwill and Parramatta centres and requires frequent weekly travel to schools and community venues for workshop delivery of established Story Factory programs. There may also be opportunities to collaborate with or support other team members to refine and develop new creative writing programs that respond to students’ needs and interests. Engaging with diverse communities and fostering respectful relationships are key aspects of the role.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Storyteller will work under the direction of a School Programs Manager, and in collaboration with the whole Storytelling Team. They will lead a range of engaging creative writing workshops with students in primary and high school, all designed to build young people’s literacy and help them find their voice. Most programs will be delivered in primary and high schools in Sydney and across Western Sydney, with some programs run after school and during the holidays at Story Factory’s centres in Redfern or Parramatta, online, and at our newly opened hub in Bidwill, Mount Druitt.

At least initially, the Storyteller will deliver creative writing programs we have already developed, but they may later work with the team to develop new and innovative creative writing programs responding to students’ needs and interests. They will collaborate with the whole Storytelling team to ensure all programs are culturally appropriate, draw on diverse cultures, and give students of all abilities opportunities to authentically express their ideas and beliefs.

The ideal candidate will be an exceptional, experienced teacher or facilitator with a passion for nurturing creativity in young people, and the drive to deliver innovative creative writing programs that become a benchmark in the field. They will have a strong understanding of how to support and differentiate programming for diverse learners, and a pedagogical approach that allows all young people to develop their literacy and find their voice. The applicant must be willing to work across both high school and primary school.

The Storyteller will work full time, Monday to Friday. Ordinarily they will work 9am-5pm but may need to start early or finish late for some workshops. They will be able to adjust hours accordingly. There may be some flexibility to work from home.

Story Factory is a Child Safe Organisation. The successful applicant must undertake a Police Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement. The Storyteller will be expected to follow our Code of Conduct and Child-Safety Policy at all times, and be a role model for the Story Factory community in all matters of child safety. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Deliver Story Factory’s range of creative writing programs to young people aged 7 to 17 across schools, Story Factory centres and online.
2. Differentiate programs as needed to ensure programs support students of all abilities and backgrounds.
3. Ensure that programs are conducted in line with Story Factory’s Theory of Change, Mission, Vision and Values.
4. Supervise volunteers and interns during workshops, ensuring they are appropriately directed, supported and thanked.
5. Ensure all programs are culturally appropriate and inclusive, and that workshops are welcoming to students and families from diverse backgrounds.
6. Maintain accurate and timely records of all workshops, including lesson plans and rolls for both students and volunteers, and ensure evaluations are completed in a timely fashion.
7. Collect and curate student work for publication at the end of each program.
8. The Storyteller may also collaborate with and support other team members to develop new creative writing programs as needed, including writing lesson plans and resources.
9. Maintain and develop relationships with staff in our partner schools, community organisations and families. 

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Short term (6 months):

• Deliver high-quality creative writing workshops that meet the needs of students across diverse settings, ensuring engagement and participation.
• Collaborate with the Programs Team to design and implement new programs, focusing on responding to student interests and needs.
• Adhere to consistent processes for managing workshop records and curating student work for publication.

Long term (2 years):

• Deliver innovative creative writing programs that set a benchmark in the field, contributing to Story Factory’s reputation in youth storytelling.
• Foster strong relationships with young people, volunteers, interns and community members, for continued support and engagement in workshops.
• Strengthen Story Factory’s presence in Sydney and Western Sydney, helping to grow participation and impact. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential: 

• Exceptional communication and teaching skills, and a love of writing;
• Inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to working with students from diverse backgrounds;
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team to develop and implement creative writing programs;
• Strong ability to engage with students, families, educators and volunteers, creating a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment;
• Well developed organisational skills, with attention to detail in managing workshop records and publications.
• Willingness to travel to schools and centres across the Greater Sydney region.

Desirable: 

• A teaching qualification is desirable but not essential, if the candidate has significant experience as an educator or workshop facilitator;
• Experience supervising and directing the work of volunteers;
• Drivers licence and the ability to travel across Sydney and Western Sydney;
• Insight grounded in lived experience or community connection is considered an asset.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At Story Factory, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people.

We welcome applicants with relevant lived experience or cultural knowledge that enriches our programs and strengthens our engagement with young people. Lived experience may include migration, disability or neurodivergence, socio-economic disadvantage, caring responsibilities, trauma, LGBTQIA+ identity or other experiences that shape how you understand and support young people.

We encourage people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. Residents of Greater Western Sydney are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you require specific support to apply for this position, please email jobs@storyfactory.org.au using the subject line: Storyteller enquiry via EthicalJobs. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

How to Apply

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by 9am on the closing date and submit your CV/resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria.