Child and Family Specialist – Play2Learn

Job Posting Organization:
54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation, part of the Save the Children Australia Group and a global movement dedicated to ensuring that children and young people have their rights met and thrive in all their diversity. The organization operates across every state and territory in Australia, providing quality services to children and their caregivers. With a workforce of approximately 600 employees, 54 reasons is committed to diversity and inclusion, embracing various backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs to effectively serve vulnerable client groups.

Job Overview:
The Child and Family Specialist position is part of the Play2Learn program, which is designed to support families and young children in their early learning journey. This role involves working closely with parents, caregivers, and children to facilitate a smooth transition into early learning environments. The position is part-time (0.8 FTE) and is a maximum term role until June 30, 202

• The specialist will be responsible for delivering supported playgroups, providing outreach parent coaching, and conducting online parent education. The role emphasizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally sensitive approach to family support and early childhood development, aiming to create lasting change for children and families in the community.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Child and Family Specialist include:

• Delivering supported playgroups in the local community to foster socialization and learning among children and families.
• Providing outreach parent coaching and online education to empower parents with effective parenting strategies.
• Conducting 1:1 outreach services, including in-home visits to offer personalized support and interventions.
• Identifying additional assistance and external services needed by families, and providing appropriate referrals and information.
• Promoting positive parenting practices and culturally respectful approaches to child and family wellbeing.
• Ensuring that children are developmentally on track and equipping families with the necessary skills and tools for effective parenting.
• Engaging with at-risk families and children, particularly those under 4 years of age, to facilitate their engagement and support.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Child and Family Specialist role must possess demonstrated skills and knowledge in group facilitation and engagement, particularly with at-risk families and children. They should have experience in delivering in-home family support and interventions, as well as knowledge of best practices in effective parenting strategies and behavior management techniques. A degree or diploma qualification in a relevant field such as Psychology, Early Childhood, Social Work, Human Services, or Social Sciences is required, or significant equivalent experience in the field.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a degree or diploma in a relevant field such as Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Human Services, or Social Sciences. Candidates with significant equivalent experience in these areas may also be considered. This educational foundation is essential for understanding child development, family dynamics, and effective intervention strategies.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have relevant experience in family support, early childhood development, and early intervention. Specifically, candidates should have demonstrated experience in group facilitation and engagement with at-risk families and children, particularly those aged under 4 years. Experience in delivering in-home family support and interventions is also crucial for this role.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for effective communication with families and colleagues. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly in communities with diverse linguistic backgrounds, enhancing the ability to connect with families from various cultural contexts.

Additional Notes:
This position is part-time (0.8 FTE) and is a maximum term role until June 30, 202

• The role offers a generous award rate salary (Level 4.1 – currently $46.70 per hour) plus superannuation and full salary packaging benefits. Employees are entitled to extra leave options, supportive management, professional supervision training, and access to a free Employee Wellbeing Program. The organization promotes a friendly and flexible work environment, with opportunities for internal deployment and career progression within one of Australia’s largest non-profits. The application process is designed to be straightforward and accessible, encouraging diversity and inclusion in recruitment.