Kindergarten Improvement Advisor

Department of Education & Training, Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

Department of Education & Training, Victoria is seeking a part-time Kindergarten Improvement Advisor based in Ringwood to support funded kindergarten services in delivering high-quality early learning, under Best Start and VEYLDF reforms.

You will draw on early childhood knowledge, coordinate networks, and use evidence to strengthen local practice, build capacity, and improve transitions for children and families across services.

Qualifications

• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing abilities.
• Ability to analyse data and inform decisions.
• Experience in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with funded kindergarten services.
• Apply problem-solving to manage issues and decisions.
• Utilise department systems for Kindergarten Information and Service Agreement Management.
• Engage in conversations with services using data to address needs related to educationally disadvantaged children.
• Foster collaboration across the community.
• Understand current research in early childhood and implications for reform.
• Provide advice to the Early Childhood Improvement Manager on delivery issues.
• Enable collaboration between early childhood services and schools.
• Implement quality assurance to deliver reforms in line with Departmental requirements.
• Assist services to develop plans in response to challenges in reforms.
• Advise on funding plans and reallocations as needed.
• Work with Area and state-wide teams to strengthen connections.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Tertiary Early Childhood Education qualification

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Kindergarten Information and Service Agreement Management

Job description

About the Group Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs. This role is located in the Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Outer East Melbourne Area, North Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.

About the Role

Please note this role is 0.6 FTE and based out of our Ringwood office. The main purpose of this role is to advise, support and build the capacity of funded kindergarten services to continuously improve service quality, particularly through the implementation of early childhood reforms, Best Start, Best Life reforms and the delivery of Networks and Forums. The Kindergarten Improvement Advisor will need to draw on experience and knowledge in an early learning context, administration of early childhood services and curriculum delivery. To be successful in this role you should have excellent interpersonal, influencing, and analytical skills. You will possess a strong understanding of quality pedagogical practices and a strong knowledge of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). Group facilitation skills and experience would be an advantage. You will play a lead role in strengthening early childhood service collaboration, which will ultimately support services through a time of significant reform activity, help create a culture of trust and reflection, and improve transitions for children and families between services and into school. Flexibility will be required during periods of surge activity.

Key responsibilities of the role may include:

• establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with funded kindergarten services.
• applying problem-solving skills to manage problems and decisions….
• utilise department systems, including the Kindergarten Information and Service Agreement Management systems.
• engaging in meaningful conversations with services, using data and evidence, to identify and address the needs of the services as it relates to educationally disadvantaged children.
• fostering the development of collaborative relationships widely in the community.
• understanding current research and developments in the early childhood sector, identifying implications and opportunities .
• provide advice to the Early Childhood Improvement Manager on delivery issues, operational perspectives and policy implications
• enabling collaboration between early childhood services and schools to build local communities of practice.
• implementing quality assurance measures to ensure that early childhood reforms are delivered in line with Departmental requirements.
• providing support, tools and advice to early childhood service providers to assist them to develop plans in response to their identified challenges in delivering early childhood reforms.
• advising and supporting funded kindergartens to plan the best use of allocated Early Childhood reform funding. This may include, but is not limited to, receipting, reviewing, signing off and approving Early Childhood reform funding plans.
• working collaboratively as part of a team and strengthening Area and state-wide connections including the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division.

Attributes

• Strong project management skills and ability to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to provide innovative solutions to complex issues
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to build and develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Capacity to effectively analyse data and utilise this to inform decision making and be able to work proactively and independently

Qualifications and Experience

• Required: Current Working with Children Check or Victorian Insitute of Teaching Registration
• Required: Tertiary Early Childhood Education qualification
• Desirable: Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education
• Required: Experience in early childhood settings or transferable knowledge.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application. The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person. Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au. For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Mel Williams, Manager, Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Outer EasternAreavia [phone] or [e-mail] Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements. Applications close 11:59pm on 03 November 2026.