Childhood Educator – Lower Plenty 

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Childhood Educator - Lower Plenty 

• Full-Time & Part-Time (0.8 FTE), Permanent 

• Based in Lower Plenty  

• $90,138.16 per annum plus super.      

• 17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options     

• Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance    

About Odyssey Victoria:    

Odyssey Victoria (OV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey Victoria we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community. OV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.

Role Purpose:  

The Childhood Educator coordinates and delivers care and education to meet the needs of individual children in residence at the Therapeutic Community (TC). The key purpose of the position is to lead, implement and continuously improve the delivery of the children’s programs and to contribute to the development of organisational policies and initiatives. The role provides guidance to educators, ensuring a secure and nurturing environment for children, and promoting opportunities for children to reach their full potential. A secondary purpose is to collaborate with the Family Services Team Leader in embedding a trauma-informed approach, guided by Best Interests principles, and to model high-quality practice across the Family Services Program.

Part of the Therapeutic Community (TC), a long-term residential program, the onsite Children’s Centre forms part of the specialized Family Services Program, offering a unique play and learning environment for the development of children aged 0-5 years and providing additional programs for children aged 6-12 after school and on school holidays, working closely in supporting resident families. The Centre provides childcare experiences tailored to meet the needs of individual children. The Centre is open Monday to Friday, and assists in providing an environment that is secure, and nurturing, and will support the safety, social and emotional wellbeing and developmental needs, and protection of all children.

Role responsibilities: 

Working under general direction, the role performs duties of a specialised nature in the application of knowledge and skills gained through relevant qualifications and previous experience in the discipline, and is expected to contribute knowledge in establishing procedures, and exercise judgement where procedures are not clearly defined. The role undertakes responsibility for the following varied activities:

Key areas of focus:     

• Design and lead day to day educational activities in consultation with the Lead Childhood Facilitator

• Mentor and supervise resident workers

• Work within the philosophy and principles of integrated service delivery.

• Provide a program of education and care based on strengths, dispositions, skills, and interests of the children which will evolve from observations, feedback from parents, the inclusion of the broader Therapeutic community.

• Support families in developing an understanding about the importance of play and leisure-based learning, and the significance of the early years in the educational continuum for children.

• Support a culture of professional inquiry and ongoing learning, implementing change where agreed and promoting a culture of best practice.

• Use reflective practices in a way that embeds continuous collaboration and improvement

• Coordinate and oversee daily routines and structured educational activities Ensure programs reflect evidence of consultation with children, families and the Family services team and demonstrates a strong focus on effective partnerships with families.

• Establish and maintain environments that are welcoming and inclusive of all families and focus on engaging the family as a whole.

• Communicate with families offering support, guidance and encouraging participation in the program.

• Actively participate as a member of the integrated team to implement and enhance the delivery of the children’s programs and to inform the development of policies and initiatives as required.

• Ensuring compliance with NQS, child safety, and organisational policies.

• Deliver therapeutic structured programs that are responsive to the changing needs of the children and enhance the individual developmental outcomes of each child.

• Record individual children’s progress and their progress towards developmental milestones.

• Ensure child safety standards are met, which include being able to identify and respond possible attachment issues and trauma signs within children.

• Provide specialist guidance to resident parents utilizing sStrengths based approaches by role modelling positive techniques for supporting and working through children’s behaviours.

• Contribute to case planning discussions, treatment plans, and advocates for children’s needs within the broader therapeutic community

• Assist resident parents with play-based activities that help to repair relational fractures.

To be successful in this role, you must… 

1. Relevant Bachelor Degree qualification plus a minimum of the AOD Skill Set for Health Professionals* (or commitment to obtain within 12 months of employment).

1. Significant experience (minimum 3 years) in early childhood education and family support, preferably in complex environments such as AOD, mental health, or child protection.

1. Knowledge of and experience in implementing Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standards (NQS)

1. Understanding of the developmental stages of children aged 0-5 years (6-11 years highly desirable).

1. Proficient knowledge and understanding of approved learning frameworks in order to stimulate, engage and enhance children’s learning and development.

1. Demonstrated understanding and acceptance of different social and cultural values and attitudes to raising children.

1. Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion at all times.

1. Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative partnerships.

1. Ability to effectively liaise and communicate with a wide variety of people in a non-judgemental manner.

1. Ability to meet deadlines, balance competing demands, prioritise work and respond effectively to change.

1. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and a willingness to give and receive feedback and recognise and resolve interpersonal conflict.

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria, please click HERE (http://odyssey.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/POSTC5021-Childhood-Educator-LP.pdf)

*Appendix A (AOD Competencies)  

OV requires people in clinical positions to have the following competencies (or their equivalent). Where people do not already have these competencies, OV will invest in the person’s professional development by providing them through its RTO.

The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:

• CHCAOD001 - Work in an alcohol and other drugs context

• CHCAOD004 - Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues.

• CHCAOD006 - Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.

• CHCAOD009 - Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans

What we can give YOU!   

In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

• Providing work that is meaningful and challenging

• Providing career pathways across diverse OV programs.

• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)

• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave and Study Leave

• Flexible working arrangements such as monthly RDO’s for full-timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements).

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional development and personal wellbeing.

Application information    

Please apply directly via our careers website (applications via external recruitment websites or via email will not be considered)

Applications should be addressed to Becca Gratch and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria. Please indicate in your CV which position you are applying for either full-time or part-time.

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Becca Gratch Team Leader – Family Services on, BGratch@odyssey.org.au.

We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately. This role will be open for one week and close once a suitable candidate has been selected, which may be prior to the application deadline, so please don’t wait to apply!

Our commitment to diversity    

At OV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.

Safety screening

OV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us.

All Odyssey Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees