ABOUT PAISLEY PARK

Paisley Park is a family-owned Australian early learning company with over 30 years of experience in early childhood education and care. We are passionate about creating environments where children feel safe, valued and inspired to thrive, learn and grow. We believe strong educational leadership, confident Educators, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement drive exceptional early learning outcomes. We invest in our people, value professional curiosity, and recognise that the most meaningful improvements in practice happen when theory, reflection, and practical experience come together.

Our approach to professional learning extends beyond traditional training. Through our Communities of Practice Reflective Mentor Framework, we create opportunities for Educators and leaders to collaborate, critically reflect, share knowledge and strengthen their professional practice. We believe that developing confident, capable Educators is one of the most important investments we can make in children's learning and wellbeing.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an inspiring, knowledgeable and practice-focused Educational Leader to join Paisley Park Newtown, Geelong. Our 87-place Long Day Care Centre has been beautifully upgraded and benefits from a well-established educational culture and strong Centre Director leadership. You will join a service with an established educational foundation, with the opportunity to build on strengths, deepen pedagogical thinking, and support our Educators to achieve consistently high-quality outcomes for children.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced early childhood professional who understands that effective educational leadership is not simply about reviewing documentation, writing plans or facilitating meetings. It is about being present, building relationships, modelling effective practice and working alongside Educators to make a tangible difference to children's everyday experiences.

At Paisley Park, our Educational Leaders lead in action.

You will be provided with ample dedicated time away from the floor to mentor Educators, reflect on practice, plan qualified learning and undertake the responsibilities of your role. Equally important, you will be actively engaged in the learning environments, working alongside Educators, demonstrating strategies, modelling interactions and supporting the practical implementation of pedagogical approaches.

Working in close partnership with our Centre Director, you will help strengthen curriculum quality, facilitate critical reflection, support professional growth, and ensure our educational program remains responsive to every child's strengths, interests, identities, cultures, and emerging capabilities.

You will also become part of our broader educational leadership community through dedicated monthly professional learning sessions specifically designed for Educational Leaders. These sessions provide opportunities to extend your knowledge, collaborate with like-minded professionals, share challenges and ideas, and strengthen your leadership practice within a supportive professional network.

YOUR ROLE AND IMPACT

Educational Leadership Through Practice

- Lead the implementation and ongoing strengthening of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), ensuring its principles, practices and learning outcomes are meaningfully reflected in everyday experiences.
- Work alongside Educators in learning environments to model intentional teaching, responsive interactions, play-based learning and effective pedagogical strategies.
- Observe practice in action and provide timely, constructive feedback that supports Educators to recognise strengths and identify opportunities for growth.
- Support Educators to move beyond routine programming towards deeper pedagogical thinking, purposeful planning and meaningful assessment of children's learning.
- Guide the development of engaging educational programs that reflect children's voices, agency, strengths, interests and emerging capabilities.
- Model effective observation, documentation and assessment practices, demonstrating how these inform responsive planning and extend children's learning.
- Support Educators to create environments that encourage curiosity, exploration, creativity, independence,



inclusion and sustained engagement.
- Help teams translate contemporary research and pedagogical theory into practical approaches that enhance children's learning, development and wellbeing.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen practice through observation, discussion, demonstration and collaborative problem-solving.

This is an active mentoring role. We are seeking an Educational Leader who understands that some of the most powerful professional learning happens in the moment, through a thoughtful interaction, a demonstrated teaching strategy, a reflective question or the opportunity to reconsider an approach alongside a trusted colleague.

Communities of Practice Reflective Mentor Framework

Our commitment to professional learning is an important point of difference at Paisley Park. Through our Communities of Practice Reflective Mentor Framework, you will have opportunities to continue developing your leadership capabilities while supporting others' professional growth.

Your responsibilities will include

- Participating in dedicated monthly, off-the-floor professional learning sessions specifically designed for Educational Leaders.
- Collaborating with Educational Leaders from across our services to exchange ideas, explore challenges and share successful approaches.
- Engaging in structured reflective discussions that deepen pedagogical knowledge and strengthen leadership practice.
- Extending your understanding of contemporary research, educational theory, curriculum implementation and quality improvement.
- Reflecting on your mentoring approach and identifying opportunities to strengthen your effectiveness as a pedagogical leader.
- Bringing ideas, strategies and insights from these sessions back to the service and translating them into practical improvements.
- Contributing to a wider professional community that values curiosity, collaboration, accountability and continuous learning.

These sessions are dedicated to your development as an Educational Leader. They recognise that effective mentors also need opportunities to reflect, learn from others and continually strengthen their own practice.

THE EDUCATIONAL LEADER WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking more than someone who understands the EYLF or can maintain curriculum documentation. We want an educator who can inspire professional growth, translate knowledge into practice, and build an entire team's confidence and capability.

You will bring

- Strong pedagogical knowledge: A thorough understanding of early childhood education, curriculum implementation, intentional teaching, play-based learning and the planning cycle.
- Practical mentoring capability: The confidence to work alongside Educators, demonstrate strategies and provide meaningful feedback in the learning environment.
- Reflective leadership: The ability to ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions respectfully and facilitate deeper professional thinking.
- Relationship-based leadership: The interpersonal skills to build trust, motivate others and support Educators with different levels of experience.
- A continuous improvement mindset: The ability to identify opportunities, establish priorities and support practical, sustainable improvements.
- Professional curiosity: A genuine interest in research, contemporary practice and extending your own knowledge.
- Strong organisation: The ability to balance dedicated mentoring time, documentation, professional learning and service priorities.
- Emotional intelligence: A calm, respectful and constructive approach to feedback, challenges and differing perspectives.
- Collaborative capability: The willingness to work closely with the Centre Director and participate actively in our wider Educational Leader community.
- A commitment to child safety: An unwavering focus on children's rights, wellbeing, inclusion and protection.

Previous experience as an Educational Leader will be highly regarded.



We particularly welcome candidates who can demonstrate how they have supported Educator development, strengthened pedagogical practice and contributed to improvements in children's learning experiences.

WHY JOIN OUR PAISLEY PARK FAMILY?

We understand that effective educational leadership requires more than a job title. It requires time, trust, professional support and an organisation that genuinely values the role. At Paisley Park Newtown, you will benefit from:
- A beautifully upgraded 87-place early learning centre in Newtown, Geelong.
- An established educational culture and a strong, supportive Centre Director.
- Ample dedicated off-the-floor time to undertake mentoring, planning, reflection and educational leadership responsibilities.
- The opportunity to work alongside Educators on the floor, modelling practice and supporting implementation in real time.
- Dedicated monthly off-the-floor professional learning sessions for Educational Leaders through our Communities of Practice Reflective Mentor Framework.
- Opportunities to collaborate with like-minded Educational Leaders across our services.
- Competitive remuneration that recognises your qualifications, experience and leadership responsibilities.
- The applicable Educational Leader allowance, in accordance with the relevant industrial instrument and employment arrangements.
- Ongoing professional learning, mentoring and career development opportunities.
- Employee childcare discounts for eligible team members.
- A custom-designed Paisley Park uniform.
- The chance to contribute to a family-owned organisation with over 30 years of experience in early learning.

ESSENTIAL SELECTION CRITERIA

To be considered for this position, you will need to demonstrate:
- A completed and verifiable ACECQA-approved early childhood teaching qualification appropriate to the role.
- Relevant experience in an Australian early learning service and a sound understanding of educational leadership.
- Demonstrated experience mentoring, coaching or supporting the professional development of Educators.
- A thorough understanding of the EYLF, NQS, National Law and Regulations, and relevant Victorian Child Protected Standards.
- The ability to lead critical reflection and translate pedagogical knowledge into practical improvements.
- Strong knowledge of educational programming, observations, assessment, documentation and intentional teaching.
- Experience contributing to quality improvement initiatives and supporting the development and review of a QIP.
- An understanding of inclusive practice, children's agency, cultural responsiveness and family partnerships.
- A current and appropriate Working with Children Check and any other required pre-employment clearances.
- Relevant current training, or the ability to meet applicable requirements for child protection, First Aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis management, and safe sleep.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and robust organisational capability.
- A commitment to child safety, professional ethics, confidentiality and continuous improvement.
- A willingness to participate in a thorough interview and provide appropriate referee details for post-interview reference checks.

We will verify all qualifications, registrations, and required credentials as part of our recruitment process. Candidates whose required qualifications or credentials cannot be satisfactorily verified will not be considered for appointment. Paisley Park is a Child Safe organisation. We will only recruit candidates who share our commitment to children's safety, rights and wellbeing and who demonstrate the professional integrity expected of an Educational Leader.

READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

If you are passionate about pedagogy, enjoy mentoring Educators and want to be part of a professional community that invests in your growth as well as the growth of others, we would love to hear from you. Join Paisley Park Newtown and help us continue strengthening an established educational culture where professional learning is lived every day, mentoring happens in action, and children remain at the heart of every decision. Apply through the SEEK Quick Apply button and include your current resume, qualification details and relevant referee information.

📌 Seeking an Educational Leader at Paisley Park Newtown
🏢 Paisley Park Early Learning Centres
📍 Newtown