• Permanent Full-Time or Part-time Position
• Location: Cairns with Hybrid/ WFH Options!
• Must have qualifications in Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy
• Rewarding work - every day you know you are making a real difference

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we stand together with anyone who needs us, for as long as they need us. Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity

Mission Australia delivers the Early Childhood Approach as an NDIS Partner in the Community. Early childhood partners work with children younger than 9 who have a disability and children younger than 6 where there are concerns about their development. Read more about the National Disability Insurance Agency's Early Childhood Approach.

As an Early Childhood Specialist, you will have the rewarding opportunity where you will collaborate with our existing National Early Childhood Specialists, and with our Early Childhood Coordination (ECC) team you will provide evidence-based, family-centred specialised support.

The role offers the chance to empower children and their families, helping them build capacity, make informed choices, and engage with available services. Working both in-home, virtual and in community settings, you'll assess needs, and develop tailored goals and plans for each child, creating actionable plans that promote wellbeing.

Enjoy the benefits of working with an organisation that values flexibility and work-life balance. You will be welcomed into an experienced and established team that fosters best practice early childhood intervention.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Work part of a national team to support children, families, and their carers to identify their strengths and areas they would like to improve.
• Utilise specialised expertise to share and collaborate with Early Childhood teams to achieve child and family outcomes.
• Ensure children and families have access to timely and specialised clinical developmental support.
• Conducting assessments in consultation with Early Childhood Coordinators.
• Implementing Family Support plans in either group or individual basis.
• Engaging and upskilling staff as well as the broader community on their specialised expertise in child development.

Requirements for Success

• Must hold qualifications in Speech Pathology or Occupational Therapy.
• Currently registered or able to be registered with Speech Pathology Australia or AHPRA.
• Understanding and experience in the Disability, Child, Youth and Family Services sector.
• Knowledge of child development delays and/or disability.
• Exceptional communicational skills with the ability to establish and build rapport, engage and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to travel for work where required.
• Exceptional time management and prioritisation skills.
• Full drivers license with no restrictions.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Our Culture

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you're skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [email protected] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [email protected], using the subject line: Early Childhood Specialist - Cairns enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Your benefits

• Rewarding work - every day you know you're making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 
• Extra leave including Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

How to Apply

Click 'Apply Now' and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications are shortlisted as they are received. Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you