Early Childhood Trainee | Shellharbour Early Learning and Care in Shellharbour City Centre, Australia

Employment Type: Maximum Term, Full Time – 18-month appointment

Hours: Monday to Friday @ 7.6 hours per day

Working at Big Fat Smile, there’s a lot to smile about. The trust you’ll be given in exchange for your expertise. The freedom you’ll be given as an Educator to use your judgement, adapt learning approaches, and bring creativity and playfulness to a child’s day. The joy you’ll get from doing work you love with team members who are as invested as you. And the beautiful relationships you’ll form with peers, children, and families – through shared experiences that are as rich as they are rewarding.

More than a job, this is an opportunity to make a child’s world a better, brighter place. Get greater enjoyment from your work and make more of a difference in the lives of every child in our child-first organisation.

Big smiles and bigger opportunities

We’re Big Fat Smile. A not-for-profit that plays a pivotal role in the lives of thousands of children and families across Australia. We’re early education enthusiasts, with 40+ community preschools, long day care centres and fun clubs, and a variety of community and inclusion programs. Each one dedicated to giving every child the best start in life. And each well-respected for the work it does.

Due to our size, there are big opportunities for those who want to go further. You’ll find meaningful career paths with lots of promotions across our centres. And because professional learning and growth is at the heart of everything we do, you’ll have the support and knowledge to succeed.

Right now, we’re looking for an Early Childhood Trainee at Shellharbour Early Learning and Care, located in Stockland Shellharbour. You will earn while you learn and work towards your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. In this role you will work with and be supported by an experienced team of educators and teachers, educating and caring for children aged 0-5. We do not expect you to have any prior skills or qualifications (we will teach you all you need to know!), but you do need to have a passion for working with children and a commitment to a career in the sector.

A supportive and safe workplace

When the going gets tough (as it sometimes does in this sector), you will find teammates and leaders have your back. There’s a real in-it-together feeling here thanks to a safe and supportive environment, and well-established policies and processes that outline exactly what’s expected and needed in any situation. Everyone’s in it together, making it easier for you to thrive.

Safeguarding children is embedded in all we do. Through our Child Safe Framework and Values, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children entrusted to our care.

We treasure the expertise of our educators

As an Early Childhood Trainee, you will play a critical role in shaping young minds. You will create happy, healthy relationships between a child and the most important people in their lives. You’ll bring fun, laughter and play to each day, but most importantly, you’ll create magical moments for children to experiment and grow.

What you need to succeed

• You have to be 18 years or older

• No qualifications or experience is required. In fact, to be eligible, you can’t already hold a Certificate III or above

• You need to be able to work full-time hours

• Must be able to get a Working with Children Check (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-working-with-children-check) , valid for paid work (this is needed for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work in NSW)

• You’re passionate about creating better outcomes for local children, families and communities

• Someone who can commit to making sure the children in our care are safe and healthy

• A fun-loving attitude and big smile!

There are lots of reasons why a role with us is rewarding

• You will feel supported by a Total Well-being Platform that gives you access to self-assessments, articles, toolkits, podcasts, perks and savings, and other resources.

• We are proud to be part of the multi-employer bargaining process. Join us to experience the rewards of a 15% pay increase over the next two years.

• You will have the financial peace of mind with 60% discount on early learning and care and out of school hours care services.

• You can save money with our Benefits Platform (https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbigfatsmile.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F09%2FBig-Fat-Smile_Employee-Benefits-Brochure.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Ckirsten.vanbreda%40bigfatsmile.com.au%7C90baee1bdcd3439586e208dd0db76a20%7Cdc03d17d93c349daa926706113ffcaf4%7C0%7C0%7C638681803598825443%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1Ivh0iSbkYeK6DrMAt4VVufFI92lQnMRSC1eosfT5Z8%3D&reserved=0) with meaningful discounts from over 500 retailers on everyday purchases, including groceries, cinema tickets, clothing, homewares, tech, gym membership and more.

• You can focus on what matters most because you have support from head office specialists and expertise, such as inclusion professionals and pedagogy and practice

How to apply

• A copy of your resume

• A brief cover letter that outlines why you are a good fit for the role

Apply today – You’ll be smiling too when you make more of a difference!

Safeguarding children is embedded in all we do. Through our Child Safe Framework and Values, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children entrusted to our care.