We're looking for an ECT who loves the craft of early childhood teaching. You bring warmth, professional depth, and a belief that the relationships you build with children and families matter just as much as the programs you plan. If you take pride in your work and want to do it alongside people who feel the same way, read on.

The Role

Acacia Avenue Preschool is a community-run kindergarten in Mentone offering 3 and 4-year-old programs across four groups. We're opening Purple Group, a brand new 7.5-hour long-day program for three-year-olds with 25 children, and we're looking for a permanent part time ECT to be its founding teacher, starting in 2027. You'll join a team of ten dedicated educators.

Sessions run from 8:45am to 4:15pm on Tuesday and Thursday. The role is based on 14 hours of contract time and 7 hours of non-contact time each week. Non-contact time on session days and on a third day to be agreed is included in these hours, and additional non-contact hours are negotiable with the preferred candidate.

What You'll Be Doing

- Planning and implementing a play-based three-year-old program aligned with the VEYLDF and EYLF
- Helping children and families settle into kindergarten, many of them for the first time
- Building strong relationships with children, families, and the wider Mentone community
- Shaping a new group from the start, including its routines, environment, and programming
- Contributing to documentation and ongoing quality improvement
- Working collaboratively in a team that is experienced, stable, and invested in each other's practice

What We're Looking For

- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (or equivalent).



Full VIT registration as an ECT is required
- A warm, reflective approach to teaching and a commitment to child-led learning
- Strong communication skills and a genuine investment in family partnerships
- Experience with three-year-olds or in a community kindergarten setting is an advantage, but not essential
- Recent experience in long-day sessional or daycare settings is desirable, along with an understanding of and/or experience with programming practices and pedagogy that support children's learning and wellbeing over a longer kindergarten session
- Experienced ECTs at Levels 3.5–3.6 (VECTEA 2020) or 6.10–6.11 (VECTEA 2026) are highly desirable

Pay

This role is classified up to Level 3.6 under the VECTEA 2020 (Level 6.11 under the VECTEA 2026), with remuneration in accordance with the applicable VECTEA and the current ELAA Wages Bulletin. Classification will be assessed based on your qualifications and recognised experience.

Why Acacia Avenue?

What makes Acacia Avenue special isn't just what we do, it's who we do it with. Our educators are experienced, passionate, and excellent at their craft. This is a team with low turnover, and that doesn't happen by accident. Our team is rostered above ratio as standard, because we believe good teaching requires space to do it well. When you join us, you're stepping into a culture of professional respect, shared purpose, and the kind of collegial warmth that makes coming to work a pleasure. And with Purple Group, you'll get to help build something new from day one.

Pay: $27.20 – $61.54 per hour

Work Location: In person

📌 Early Childhood Educator (Mentone)
🏢 Acacia Avenue Preschool
📍 Mentone