Are you passionate about oral language, early literacy development and education?

Do you want to be at the forefront of facilitating innovative place-based community capacity building through ALNF’s quality Early Language and Literacy Program?

ABOUT ALNF

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) is a national charity dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia for vulnerable Australians.

To meet growing demand, ALNF has an exciting opportunity for the right person to be accredited in ALNF’s highly recognised Early Language and Literacy program to provide training, mentoring and community support facilitating children and young people’s strong oral language and literacy growth.

EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY Program

ALNF’s flagship Early Language and Literacy (EL&L) program draws on best practice from speech and language pathology and education. It provides knowledge and practical strategies to support the development of foundational language and literacy skills to early childhood and early primary educators, allied professionals, parents and community members in remote, regional and urban communities.

Our goal is to create communities of practice for those who work for children, with common skills, knowledge, resources and expert support to interrupt intergenerational educational disadvantage in vulnerable communities (see EL&L video).

“In over 25 years of teaching I have found this course one of the most practical and beneficial experiences both for student and teacher learning.” –Classroom Teacher, Mid-North Coast NSW.

The program includes the nationally accredited Certificate IV in Early Language and Literacy, with educators mentored to integrate the EL&L strategies into programming and curriculum in response to children’s growth needs. It includes:

• Training and mentoring in strategies to support children’s growth in pre-writing, pre-reading, pre-phonics, oral language and vocabulary development
• A range of bespoke English EL&L resources
• Formative assessment with progression scales of children’s oral language and literacy development to support reflective practice based on the evidence of children’s growth needs.

In 2019, ALNF’s place-based EL&L instruction for children in Indigenous communities saw ALNF awarded at MIT Solve in the category of Early Childhood Development.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Primarily responsible for training and mentoring, you will also conduct parent/carer workshops, support with the administration of formative assessment interviews and interpretation and upskill and nurture community networks to facilitate positive language and literacy outcomes for children.

ALNF will provide on-the-job training and mentoring to support your qualification as an EL&L Trainer. ALNF will also provide access to training in the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment if required. We are looking for a long-term engagement and ask for a minimum commitment to the role for 2-3 years.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from other diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply. ALNF is an equal opportunity employer.

ALNF’s office is in Sydney, however ALNF will consider candidates from interstate or regional areas who would work from home when not travelling for work. This position involves extensive travel to remote, regional and urban program sites around Australia, 20-24 weeks per year.

In this role, you will make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Australians.

For further information on ALNF please visit: alnf.org and our YouTube.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilitate whole-of-community strategies to achieve oral language and early literacy growth for children across a number of vulnerable communities across Australia. Responsibilities include:

• Train educators, teaching assistants, parents and community members in EL&L strategies
• Mentor and support adult participants in the integration of EL&L across school, prior-to-school and community environments
• Conduct outreach to parents and community members to facilitate children’s oral language and early literacy skills

• Conduct and facilitate early language and literacy assessments to inform educator practice, collate results and draft literacy plans and other recommendations to facilitate children’s growth
• Liaise with participating sites and key stakeholders
• Draft documents as required
• Provide accurate and timely updates for internal and external reporting purposes
• Other work as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years demonstrated experience working in early childhood/primary/community education and/or related sectors
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or commitment to complete this qualification
• Strong cultural competence, with experience working with vulnerable communities
• The ability to deliver quality training, mentoring and workshops
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of individuals and stakeholders, considering various perspectives
• The ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Self-starter with strong organisation and time management skills
• Meet requirements for Working with Children and Vulnerable Persons
• Meet requirements for access to schools and other learning sites including full Covid-19 vaccination or AIR medical exemption
• Current Australian Driver’s License.

Desirable

• Experience working with vulnerable and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Tertiary qualification in early childhood/primary/community education/speech pathology and/or related sectors
• Experience and skills in adult education and training.

How to apply

Please click 'Apply Now' to submit your application.

Please direct enquiries to Philippa Pryor, Programs Manager [email protected] using the subject line: Early Language and Literacy Trainer - Australia Wide / Remote enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.