State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, and one of the first free public libraries in the world. At State Library Victoria, we believe that access to information and stories builds knowledge, strengthens community and inspires our future. Our recent redevelopment transformed our services and spaces, enhancing our role as a driver of Victoria’s education, innovation, tourism and creative industries.

• A unique opportunity to join the team in the Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter!
• Employee benefits include a 10% discount at Readings bookstore and Mr Tulk Café!
• Part-time role (22.8 hours per week) with shifts of varying length rostered across a seven-day week, including regular weekend days within the fortnight and public holidays.
• Attractive VPS 3.1 salary between $74,580 - $82,571 pro rata + superannuation

About the Library

State Library Victoria is Australia's oldest public library, and one of the first free public libraries in the world.

We believe in the power of knowledge to change lives. Free to access and open to all, the Library enriches the cultural, educational, social and economic lives of all Victorians.

State Library Victoria preserves and shares the stories of Victoria and the world, and is a major destination for stimulating cultural experiences, contemporary debates, and community-driven collecting. We encourage learning, exploration, imagination, and creativity, opening up possibilities for all Victorians.

About the Opportunity

The Children & Families Engagement Officers are the public face for the Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter, providing front line community engagement and creating a warm, welcoming and dynamic environment for children (0-12 years old) and their families.

The Children and Families Engagement Officers is responsible for creating engaging and educational experiences tailored to the youngest of Library visitors. Working as part of a team, Children & Families Engagement Officers will deliver early literacy and STEAM based drop-in -activities, promote a love of reading through the application of early literacy principles and highlight the services and facilities within the space and Library. Incumbents in the role require a passion for and experience working with children, outstanding customer service skills, a visitor centric mindset, and the ability to deliver a range of children's activities and services to an audience with diverse beliefs, abilities, socio-economic status and values.

The Children and Families Engagement Officers are accountable for the following outcomes:

• Delivering outstanding service by consistently providing tailored high-quality, welcoming, and proactive visitor engagement that connects children and their families to the Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter, including the space, collections, activities and programs.
• Building the young learner's community through the planning and delivery of drop-in children's activities and resources, applying best practice pedagogy to inspire curiosity, imagination and love of stories in children.
• Connecting children to the dedicated browsing collection, by offering expert knowledge of children's literature, language and literacy development.
• Maintaining a safe space for young children and families through the delivery of outstanding service, ensuring to the keep the welfare and comfort of our youngest visitors front and centre.

About You

The ideal candidate has in-depth knowledge and proficiency in engaging with children through community initiatives and how to build these in a manner that safeguards children by looking out for their well-being. The ideal candidate also has an interest in children's literature, and implementing pedagogy, learning and teaching strategies into programming initiatives.

You will come to us with:

• Experience working with children and families, in a programming setting.
• Demonstrated experience planning and delivering engaging activities to a specific target audience, working to agreed timelines and withing defined resourcing.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and applying pedagogy, learning and teaching strategies in the delivery of engaging children's activities.
• Demonstrated experience delivering high quality customer service to a diverse audience.
• Experience establishing and maintaining a safe space for children and families.
• Recognised tertiary qualification in teaching and education, or a relevant discipline is desirable.

State Library Victoria is a child-safe organisation. A valid Working with Children Check will be required before commencing.

State Library Victoria promotes a workplace that actively seeks to welcome and value the unique contributions of all people. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from cultural and linguistical diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent people and people of all ages and abilities to apply.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button to submit your application via Careers.Vic.

The following documents should be attached to your application:

• Resume
• Cover letter (maximum 3 pages) summarising how you meet the key selection criteria in the Position Description and the About You section of the advertisement. (for more information on format and content of your application, please see Preparing Your Application on the Careers.vic page).

Enquiries

For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please contact Christopher Nye (Visitor Services Manager) at cnye@slv.vic.gov.au.

For assistance with the application process, please contact us at employment@slv.vic.gov.au. 

Privacy Collection Notice

Information about how we collect and use your personal information, and how you can contact us, can be found here.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want all applicants to have an equal opportunity to demonstrate that they are the best person for the job. If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, or the provision of a particular access service, please contact our People team on employment@slv.vic.gov.au. If you are unable to make this deadline due to unforeseen personal circumstances, please get in contact to obtain a short extension to the deadline.

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