Child Care Worker in Melbourne

We are seeking a caring, responsible and suitably qualified Child Care Worker to join our early childhood education and care centre, providing care and supervision to children aged from birth to 5 years. The successful applicant will be responsible for attending to children’s daily care needs, supervising their activities, organising age-appropriate educational and recreational experiences, and supporting their physical, emotional, social and cognitive development. The position involves maintaining a safe, hygienic, nurturing and stimulating environment while working collaboratively with other educators and families to support children’s wellbeing and development.

Benefits

• Full-time, ongoing employment.
• Competitive annual salary plus superannuation.
• A supportive and professional working environment.
• Opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.
• An opportunity to contribute positively to children’s care, wellbeing and early development.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing attentive care and supervision to infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children, ensuring their safety, comfort and general wellbeing throughout the day.
• Supervising and assisting children with daily routines, including feeding, dressing, nappy changing, toileting, personal hygiene and rest periods, according to their individual needs.
• Preparing and organising materials, toys, equipment and resources required for children’s educational, recreational and developmental activities.
• Preparing and conducting age-appropriate recreational, creative, sensory and play-based activities that encourage children’s participation, learning and development.
• Engaging children through storytelling, reading, music, games and interactive play to encourage language development, creativity, communication and social interaction.
• Supervising children during indoor and outdoor recreational activities, ensuring appropriate safety practices and a secure environment.
• Guiding children’s behaviour through positive reinforcement, encouraging cooperation, independence, appropriate communication and positive social interactions.
• Supporting children’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development through responsive care, age-appropriate activities and positive engagement.
• Assisting educators in implementing play-based learning experiences consistent with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the centre’s established educational program.
• Observing and recording children’s activities, interests, participation and developmental progress, and sharing relevant observations with educators and parents or guardians as appropriate.
• Maintaining a clean, safe and hygienic childcare environment, including cleaning and organising toys, equipment, learning materials and play areas, and following applicable health and safety procedures.
• Supporting children’s meal and snack routines, considering individual dietary requirements, allergies and care needs, while maintaining positive communication with families and working collaboratively with other educators.

Qualifications and Experience

• Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or an equivalent qualification recognised for the position under applicable education and care requirements.
• A Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care will be highly regarded.
• Relevant practical experience in a childcare or early childhood education and care environment will be highly regarded.
• Sound knowledge of child development, daily childcare routines and age-appropriate care practices for children aged birth to 5 years.
• Understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), National Quality Framework (NQF), National Quality Standard (NQS) and relevant child safety requirements.
• Good communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to provide responsive, nurturing and inclusive care to children from diverse backgrounds.

Additional Requirements

• A valid Working with Children Check or equivalent clearance applicable to the state or territory of employment.
• Current first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis training, as required under applicable regulations and centre policies.
• Ability to comply with relevant child protection, health, hygiene and workplace safety requirements.