Preschool Field Officer

Role overview

Hume City Council is looking for a qualified preschool field officer to join its Family, Youth and Children team within the Inclusion and Service Planning area. This is a permanent part-time position of 22.8 hours per week, with an annual salary of $127,969.40 pro rata plus superannuation.

The council serves one of Australia’s fastest growing and most culturally diverse communities, with a strong focus on efficient, accessible services that keep customers and the community at the centre of its work.

What you will do

• Work in partnership with kindergarten educators and early childhood professionals to strengthen their capacity to include children with additional needs in everyday learning, activities and routines.
• Share information and coordinate with internal support teams to identify useful training, strategies and resources, including Best Start and School Readiness Funding, to support children with additional needs and their families.
• Help educators form respectful, trusting relationships with families so they can better plan for each child’s ongoing learning and development.
• Promote a family-centred approach and build educator capability in creating positive family partnerships.
• Support educators in making full use of universal and targeted services such as Access to Early Learning, transition support for 3-year-old kindergarten, and referral pathways for families.
• Work with educators to strengthen an integrated service system and ensure referrals and support for families are well coordinated.
• Keep client records and data accurate and current in line with Department of Education and Training and council requirements.
• Support learning outcomes for children aged 0 to 8 years in accordance with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF 2016).
• Help ensure council-run programs meet access and equity objectives.

Skills and experience

• Strong understanding of children with additional needs, including advanced observation and assessment skills for both typical and atypical development.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and confidence working with children from vulnerable backgrounds and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Ability to build the capability of early years educators through practical and theoretical knowledge of kindergarten program planning and delivery.
• Familiarity with Victorian Child Safe Standards and reporting duties under the Reportable Conduct Scheme.
• Capability to prepare clear observational reports and practical recommendations for educators and families, using inclusive, family-centred and strengths-based approaches.
• Working knowledge of the National Quality Standard, early childhood teaching methods, and current regulations and legislation.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and concisely.
• Substantial teaching experience and a strong understanding of child development, particularly for children with additional needs.

Qualifications and certifications

• A four-year Early Childhood Teaching degree, Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), or an equivalent early childhood qualification.
• At least 10 years of experience, along with additional qualifications in Early Childhood Intervention.
• A current Victorian driver’s licence.
• A valid Working with Children Check.
• Another reference to a current driver’s licence is included in the source and should be understood as a duplicate requirement.

Why this role appeals

Hume City Council highlights a supportive team environment, professional development opportunities and a competitive salary package. The organisation also emphasises its child-safe, inclusive and equal opportunity culture, encouraging applications from people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Additional information

Candidates must be prepared to complete background and probity checks, including reference checks, a Working with Children Check and a criminal record check. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and the position may close early once enough suitable applications are received, so applying promptly is recommended. For queries, the contact provided in the source is careers@hume.vic.gov.au.

Employer values

The council describes its culture through four values: continuous improvement, teamwork and inclusion, accountability, and a strong commitment to achieving the best outcomes for the Hume community.