Head of Learning and Wellbeing

Children's Ground is a First Nations organisation. The Children's Ground Approach is designed and delivered through the leadership of First Nations people. We are committed to systems change to ensure dignity, justice and equity for all children and families. Our work focuses on national reform as well as evidencing a new way of working.

The Children's Ground Approach is a whole of community, whole of life approach. We privilege First Nations knowledge systems and practice. Over the course of a generation, led by local expertise, we create and deliver an integrated system that is centred on learning, development and wellbeing that responds to the child and their family through the key transition points from pre birth to young adulthood.

Our approach recognises the cultural, social, and economic strength of our communities. We build on this over a generation to ensure a future for our children and grandchildren that gives them freedom, opportunity and rights to their culture and identity.

Children's Ground operates in Central Australia and across the Top End, with support provided by a Melbourne based Shared Services team.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, creative educationalist with experience in both Early Years and Primary school learning to be part of the leadership of Children's Ground Learning and Wellbeing approach. You will be part of a bold independent Not For Profit organisation creating a different future with children, families and communities experiencing the greatest levels of disadvantage and inequity in Australia.

Children's Ground is Australian designed with First Nations people. It is a whole of community, whole of life approach. Children's Ground works with a community over the course of a generation, led by local expertise, vision and intelligence. Together, we create and deliver an integrated system that is centred on learning, development and wellbeing that respond to the child and their family through the key transition points from pre birth to young adulthood. Our approach recognises the cultural, social and economic strength of communities and builds on this to equip children for opportunities locally, nationally and globally.

The role works closely and alongside our Arrernte educators who are developing and implementing an Arrernte learning platform. The incumbent forms part of the CA leadership team and takes a lead role in the design and implementation of community empowerment and innovative integrated approaches to learning and wellbeing that will lead educational approaches in the 21st Century and beyond.

This position needs someone who is a dynamic and empathic leader of staff, and can play a significant role in the development and achievement of the strategy, objectives and goals of the organisation.

Children's Ground is working in five geographic locations across the Central Australian region, with a shared central office based in Alice Springs. This position will be based in Alice Springs at the regional hub and work across locations, in community centres, in outstations and on country.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Planning and Strategy:

• Under direction and support from the Director and First Nations Directors, lead the development and implementation of the Learning and Wellbeing platform for Children's Ground
• Ensure local users are key strategic advisors in program development and delivery
• Build and protect the cultural, ethical and corporate social responsibility of Children's Ground
• Contribute to the development and achievement of the CG and CA strategy, objectives and goals of the organisation

Local Community Agency and respect for local cultural knowledge and life:

• Liaise with First Nations elders and community members in relation to the teams' activities to ensure that our operations do not undermine and actively promote local culture
• Encourage and support all Aboriginal families, valuing their ideas, strategies and aspirations

Learning and Wellbeing:

• Implement an innovative, dynamic high quality Learning, Wellbeing and Development Platform for Central Australia that engages children in their first culture and language and build upon this with key 21C education principles to deliver an integrated learning platform
• Alongside First Nations educators provide direct delivery of Early Years and Primary Aged learning
• Ensure individualised learning plans for each child are developed with their family and include regular conversations and involvement of family
• Align practice with National Policy and international leading practice

Staff management and support

• Be an active contributor to organisations culture - nurturing, maintaining and strengthening a collaborative, inclusive, respectful, results focussed and supportive culture in Central Australia
• Recruit, manage, train and develop the Learning and Wellbeing team in Central Australia with the support of the Directors and People and Culture
• Manage human resource matters as they arise with the support of People and Culture

Quality and Risk Management:

• Ensure all programs are delivered with quality and integrity and a safe physical environment is maintained for learning
• Ensure risk management policies and systems are up to date
• Ensure compliance with early years frameworks, educational requirements and standards of learning for children aged 0 12

Financial accountability and resource management:

• With the Director of Learning, budget and manage the resources for the Learning and Wellbeing area

Evaluation, monitoring and data systems management:

• Support commitment to, and practice of, data capture and upload
• Maintain timely internal and external reporting
• Develop relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders including local organisation, partners and government funders
• Contribute to networks that build the credibility and presence of Children's Ground

Key Selection Criteria

• Degree or recognised qualification in Primary Teaching or Early Years education - eligibility for registration as a teacher in NT
• Experience leading and organising a learning environment that suits different ages and abilities - multi aged class
• Experience and passion for quality, innovative learning and wellbeing environments with experience in curriculum and resource development
• Strong people skills and collaborative worker
• Ability to work flexibly and creatively in a demanding NGO environment
• Ability to actively work regularly in outdoor conditions
• A current full drivers' licence, or ideally Light Rigid licence

Please apply with a resume and a pitch. Your pitch should tell us why you want to work at Children's Ground and why you feel you have suitable skills. You can use the Selection Criteria to guide your content within pitch/cover letter. This role will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected.

The Gap, Australia

Remote (Alice Springs, Northern Territory, AU)