Our play-centred program, Play2Learn, is one of our most successful and longstanding programs across Australia, helping families and young children learn to play, socialise and establish routine. We’re looking for a passionate educator who can combine high-quality early childhood practice with empathy, flexibility, and strong community engagement to ensure every child has the best possible start to their learning journey.

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.

Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.

With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose.

A place to make a difference:

In this permanent part-time role (5 hours per fortnight on Fridays during NSW school terms only, excluding school holidays and public holidays), you’ll work as part of our Play2Learn NSW team in Hay to help us create lasting change for children everywhere. You’ll coordinate the planning, implementation, and review of culturally appropriate developmental play and learning experiences for children, while also providing support and information to parents on developmental issues and facilitating referrals to relevant health, education, and welfare services. Reporting to the Team Leader, you may also be required to travel to our Wagga Wagga office for training approximately twice per year.

You will make a difference by:

• Planning and facilitating fortnightly playgroup sessions
• Finding creative ways to encourage families to engage with our support programs and services
• Identifying and addressing physical, social/emotional, and educational needs
• Providing information and referrals to families to access other relevant programs or welfare agencies
• Carrying out process monitoring, data collection, and reporting

A place to feel valued:

Your deep expertise in early childhood development and play-based learning will be invaluable. You bring experience in early childhood programs and the ability to think on your feet to respond effectively to complex situations. Your enthusiasm and proactive approach will see you actively engaging families who may benefit from support, while your cultural knowledge enables you to build strong, respectful connections with children and families from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. A collaborative team player, you demonstrate an “all-hands-on-deck” attitude and contribute positively to a supportive, outcomes-focused team environment.

This role requires:

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education or a related field (minimum), or substantial demonstrated experience and knowledge in child development
• Experience working with children aged 0–5 years and their families in a group setting
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• Knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Learning Framework
• Competency in Microsoft Office programs and the ability to use client management databases

A place to belong:

At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.

It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:

• Generous award rate salary (Level 3.1 – currently $38.65 per hour) plus super and full salary packaging benefits - use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you!
• Supportive Managers – we provide professional supervision training and monthly supervision sessions so you can feel supported and build a career
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program
• Internal deployment and secondment opportunities, and opportunities to progress within one of Australia’s largest non-profits
• Celebrate and feel supported in your diversity. We have a highly inclusive culture and diverse workforce reflecting the communities we serve, allowing you to bring your whole self to work (if that’s what you want)!

Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits.

Does this sound like the place for you?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below.

Applications Close: Friday 6^th of March 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they come in, so don’t delay in applying!

Position Description: Child Development Worker

For more information about this position, please contact Patrick Sagigi at patrick.sagigi@54reasons.org.au or Louise Clark at lousie.clark@54reasons.org.au. Or for more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page.

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.

If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact people.culture@savethechildren.org.au for further support.