Early Childhood Practitioner - OT/Creative Arts - Part Time in The Gap, Northern Territory at Childrens Ground

About Children's Ground

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 you

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic Educator. We will consider candidates from Early Years Education, Occupational Therapy or Creative Arts, to work alongside experienced Arrernte educationalists, delivering First Nations led education sessions on country. The role requires someone with a positive, innovative and energetic attitude. Early Years sessions are delivered in community, so you need to be comfortable and physically fit to transport learning resources in vehicles to outdoor settings, capable of carrying objects up to 15kg and be able to regularly work in outdoor conditions, in & around Alice Springs, with the heat/cold, sand and flies.

About the role

The role is being offered as part time 3- 4 days per week, with potential to also consider full time.

Be part of a bold independent not for profit organisation that is creating a different future for children, families and communities experiencing the greatest level of disadvantage and inequity in Australia. We welcome applicants from diverse professional backgrounds including Occupational Therapy, who are passionate about early childhood learning and wellbeing.

The role will work alongside our experienced Arrernte educationalists and governance committee focussed on community empowerment. We are looking for someone who can join a team responsible for the design, delivery and implementation of an innovative and integrated approach to learning and wellbeing. The successful applicant will be committed to Early Years learning that privileges First Culture with the best of Western teachings.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver quality, community and centre based early years learning &/or creative arts with Arrernte educators and communities that fit within the Children's Ground Approach.
• Support, document and monitor individualised learning and development aligned with individual learning plans.
• Work collaboratively with the Early Years team to design and deliver EY &/or creative arts activities, including the development of first language resources.
• Encourage and support all Aboriginal families, valuing their ideas, strategies and aspirations
• Work with an interdisciplinary team to deliver an integrated and innovative learning approach including health, social and emotional wellbeing, creative arts, digital and other areas.
• Apply occupational therapy knowledge to support children’s sensory, motor, play, and social‑emotional development in culturally grounded early years settings.
• Collaborate with Arrernte educators and families to design developmentally supportive environments and routines.
• Provide informal assessment, observation, and capacity‑building with families and staff (not clinical therapy unless appropriate to the role).
• Ensure program design fits within CG philosophies, policies and procedures
• Support, document and monitor individualised learning and development aligned with individual learning plans.
• Work collaboratively with the Early Years & Health team to design and deliver EY &/or creative arts activities, including the development of first language resources.
• Encourage and support all Aboriginal families, valuing their ideas, strategies and aspirations.
• Work with an interdisciplinary team to deliver an integrated and innovative learning approach including health, social and emotional wellbeing, creative arts, digital and other areas.
• Apply occupational therapy knowledge to support children’s sensory, motor, play, and social‑emotional development in culturally grounded early years settings.
• Collaborate with Arrernte educators and families to design developmentally supportive environments and routines.
• Provide informal assessment, observation, and capacity‑building with families and staff (not clinical therapy unless appropriate to the role).
• Information and data systems, monitoring and reporting.
• Maintain up to date confidential, organised files relating to children in the learning program.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Degree or recognised qualification in Early Childhood Education, Occupational Therapy, or Creative Arts

2. Minimum 1 year experience in early childhood, community, developmental, wellbeing, or creative arts settings (depending on qualification)

3. Ability to drive between sites, and manage the physical requirements of packing and unpacking program material

4. A passion for quality innovative learning and wellbeing environments

5. Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written

6. Strong people skills and a collaborative worker – team work, facilitation, supervision, liaison

7. Ability to work flexibly and creatively in a demanding NGO environment

8. A current full driver’s license, First Aid Certificate, willingness to undertake a Police Check and Working with Children Check.