Early Childhood Educator (Diploma)

Byron Shire Council's Sandhills Early Childhood Centre is looking an exceptional Early Childhood Educator (Diploma).

We pride ourselves on having a collaborative, creative and supportive team culture in a spacious and natural environment within walking distance to the Byron foreshore.

At our service we strive to nurture each child’s sense of belonging as a part of a strong connected community, ensuring a safe and supportive environment. 

We are looking for:

Sandhills Early Childhood Centre is a council-operated 59-place centre in the heart of Byron Bay with natural and welcoming indoor and outdoor spaces abundant with trees, wildlife, garden beds, rockeries and grassed areas. 

We are looking for an exceptional Early Childhood Educator (Diploma) to deliver a nurturing, creative, engaging, and intentional program that enhances children’s learning and development, strengthens partnerships with families, and aligns with the National Quality Framework.

The positions may be required to lead a room with a focus on planning, documenting and team leadership.

You will work with a team of exceptional educators to implement the daily program in line with the National Quality Framework and Early Years Learning framework.  Our centre welcomes children from 0-5 years and we are looking for educators for all age groups. We operate 7:30am – 5.30pm, 50 weeks per year in the heart of Byron Bay.

You will have:

• dedication and commitment to developing the future of children
• enthusiasm to engage children through activities and experiences appropriate to stages of development
• a friendly and energetic demeanour

Our position description outlines the key responsibilities of the role and what skills are required.

We look forward to reading more about your experience, skills and why you think you would be a great fit.

Please apply by filling the form below and attaching your resume (including your qualifications) and cover letter that demonstrates how you can:

• work with children 0-5 years preferably in a Long Day Care Centre environment
• use your knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework and NQF for programming for children including observation and documentation processes and demonstrated group management skills
• foster children's overall development and esteem 
• communicate effectively with children, parents and other staff to provide a professional service, resolve conflicts and negotiate effective work outcomes 

 Please refer to the position description for full list of key responsibilities, required competencies and selection criteria.

Byron Shire Council is committed to being a child safe organisation – we respect all children and their wellbeing. We will embed Child Safe Standards into our leadership, governance and culture. We will support our staff and volunteers in their responsibilities. We will strive to keep children safe from harm and abuse. 

Enjoy our Employee Benefits 

We have to offer:

• 1 x part-time position (4 days per week each)
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Salary and Conditions will be in accordance with the NSW Local Government (State) Award with an appointment at a salary in the range of $33.01 to $38.2 per hour (dependent upon skills and experience)

Other benefits include:

• Annual salary reviews and identified salary increases for financial year 2025/2026 based on award conditions 
• 11.5% superannuation 
• Access to Long Service Leave from 5 years' service
• Education and training support
• Flexible work hours
• Attractive salary packaging scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program (4 sessions per year)
• Fitness Passport
• Opportunity to work with an experienced and committed team! 

Working with Byron Shire Council: 

Byron Shire Council is focused on partnering with our community and offers pristine beaches, diverse lifestyles, a magnificent natural environment and a subtropical climate. 

Byron Shire Council has a high performance, collaborative culture and we value our employees.

As an employee you would partner with an organisation that is taking steps in all areas to reduce our carbon emissions and be an innovative and sustainable council.

We provide a rewarding and flexible working environment and celebrate our values of:

• We lead with enthusiasm and purpose
• We are open, honest and respectful
• We foster well-being and creativity
• We achieve our goals and succeed together

Location:

This position is based at Council's Sandhills Early Childhood Centre in Byron Bay; however, Council can require you to work from other work sites as required for operational reasons - such as Council's OSHC Services.

Contact:  

Ashleigh Olive - Sandhills Director - 02 6685 8118

Closing date:

10pm (NSW time), Sunday 5 January 2025.  Late applications will not be permitted.

Position Description:

Download the Early Childhood Educator - Diploma - Position Description

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of our community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for our vacancies.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to explore new ways of working – including part-time, job-share or working from different locations. Everyone can ask about it.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment process and in the workplace. If you need an adjustment during the recruitment process, please call or email the contact person listed above, and also advise us of your preferred method of communication. 

Pre-Employment Screening Process:

• Reference Checks: Referees will preferably be your current or most recent supervisor and must be able to comment directly on your abilities in a work situation. If you have any objection to this action, your concerns should be raised in your application and be discussed with the Selection Panel.
• Functional Health Assessment: If applicable, the functional health assessment evaluates your physical and functional capacity against the physical demands necessary to safely perform the job for which you have applied. 
• Background Screening: Background checks verify the information you have provided in your application, and where applicable, also check for relevant criminal history. Checks may also include, for example, a confirmation of your employment history, qualifications/tickets and working with children clearance.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please note: Once you start your online application you cannot save and return to it later.  You must use your own email address and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with Council.

Being mindful of diversity and inclusion we have provided 2 options to apply for the position.

Option 1 - Written Application

You may wish to prepare your responses in a Word document, and then COPY and PASTE into the fields below.  

Step 1: Fill out our online application form below. Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 2: Attach your resume/CV and a cover letter (optional). Once you have attached your document/s click 'Next'.

Step 3: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

 You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received. 

Option 2 - Audio File Application

Step 1: Scroll down and review the Questions that you are required to answer. 

Step 2: Record an audio file of your responses and save the file (the file must be in an MP3 format and less than 50MB). Please note that all questions with a drop box or a check box as well as the reference checks details can not be answered via audio file and must be completed below.

Step 3: Fill out the Personal Details section and the questions that can not be completed by audio file on the application form below. For all of the Questions where you are responding via audio file, type the response “audio file”.  Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 4: Attach your resume/CV, a cover letter (optional) and your audio file.  Once you have attached your documents click 'Next'.

Step 5: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received.