Child and Family Specialist

Our play-centred program, Play2Learn, is one of our most successful and longstanding programs across Australia, helping families and young children learn to play, socialise and establish routine. We need you to join our team in Townsville working closely with parents, caregivers and their children to help enable a smooth transition into the next phase of early learning.

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit. Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity. With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose. A place to make a difference:

• In this part-time (22.8Hrs/0.6 FTE across Mondays-Wednesdays) maximum term (till June 2027) position, you’ll work as a part of our Play2Learn team in Townsville to help us create lasting change for children everywhere.

You will make a difference by:

• Delivering supported playgroups in the local community, outreach parent coaching and online parent education.
• Providing 1:1 outreach services, including parent coaching with families via in-home visits, using partnership, outcomes based, strengths’ perspective and client-centred approaches.
• Identifying where additional assistance and external services are required, providing appropriate information, support and referrals.
• Promoting positive and culturally respectful approaches to parenting, and child and family wellbeing.
• Ensuring that children are developmentally on track and families have the skills and tools to parent effectively.

A place to feel valued: Your expertise in family support, early childhood development and early intervention will be invaluable. You’re proactive, creative and flexible in your work, and you understand the importance of working with families and children driven by a trauma-informed, strengths-based and culturally sensitive approach.

This role requires:

• Demonstrated skills, knowledge, understanding and experience in group facilitation and engagement, particularly with at-risk families and children (primarily those aged under 4 years).
• Experience delivering in-home family support and interventions.
• Knowledge of best practices in effective parenting strategies and behaviour management techniques.
• Degree/Diploma qualification in a relevant field such as Psychology, Early Childhood, Social Work, Human Services or Social Sciences, or significant equivalent experience.

A place to belong: At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs. It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:

• Generous award rate salary (Level 4.1 – currently $46.70 per hour) plus super and full salary packaging benefits.
• Extra leave to use in a range of ways to ensure you’re able to perform at your optimum.
• Supportive Managers – we provide professional supervision training and monthly supervision sessions so you can feel supported and build a career.
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program.
• Friendly and flexible work environment.
• Internal deployment and secondment opportunities, and opportunities to progress within one of Australia’s largest non-profits.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply. Applications Close: Sunday October 25th, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they come in, so don't delay in applying!

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.