About Children's Ground

Children’s Ground is a First Nations organisation. The Children’s Ground Approach is designed and delivered through the leadership of First Nations people. We are committed to systems change to ensure dignity, justice and equity for all children and families. Our work focuses on national reform as well as evidencing a new way of working.

The Children’s Ground Approach is a whole of community, whole of life approach. We privilege First Nations knowledge systems and practice. Over the course of a generation, led by local expertise, we create and deliver an integrated system that is centred on learning, development and wellbeing that responds to the child and their family through the key transition points from pre-birth to young adulthood.

Our approach recognises the cultural, social, and economic strength of our communities. We build on this over a generation to ensure a future for our children and grandchildren that gives them freedom, opportunity and rights to their culture and identity.

Children’s Ground operates in Central Australia and across the Top End, with support provided by a Melbourne-based Shared Services team.

About you

You are a passionate and adaptable educator who values culturally strong, community led learning. You work well with Early Childhood and primary aged children, including multi age groups, and you build positive relationships with families, Elders and community educators. You bring strong communication skills, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to First Nations led education. You’re flexible, organised, and motivated to create engaging, place based learning that supports children’s identity, wellbeing and development.

About the role

Working alongside our experienced First Nations educators and governance committee focused on community empowerment, our Educators are responsible for the design and implementation of an innovative and integrated approach to learning and wellbeing. Our Educators are committed to early years and primary learning that privileges First Nations culture and approaches combined with Western teaching.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-design and deliver culturally strong, community led learning experiences with First Nations educators and families.
• Plan and resource engaging, place based learning aligned to the Children’s Ground curriculum, EYLF and Australian Curriculum.
• Support on country learning that integrates First Nations knowledge with Western education outcomes.
• Provide educational leadership, mentoring and support to community educators.
• Document and track children’s learning and development, and share progress with families and community.
• Engage respectfully with families, Elders and community leaders to support children’s learning and wellbeing.
• Maintain compliance with policies, duty of care, WHS and reporting requirements.
• Contribute positively to team culture, organisational development and professional learning.
• Facilitate and contribute to team meetings and discussions.
• Be a positive, innovative and active member of the Children’s Ground team.

Essential Key Selection Criteria

• Experience with First Nations communities and a deep understanding of their strengths and the key challenges facing First Nations Peoples.
• Degree or recognised equivalent qualification in Education with a minimum 1 year’s teaching experience.
• Experience working with Early Childhood age groups.
• Experience organising a learning environment that suits different ages and abilities (multi- aged class).
• A passion for quality innovative learning and wellbeing environments
• A commitment to leading a First Nations led approach in education
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative worker – teamwork, facilitation, supervision, liaison
• Ability to work flexibly and creatively in a demanding NGO environment
• A current full driver’s license
• First Aid Certificate, Anaphylaxis and Asthma Management training (or willingness to obtain)
• National police check clearance and Working with Children Check (NT Ochre card).

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may be filled before the advertised closing date.