Program Worker FCS (Brighter Beginnings)

ELMO•Grafton, MA

About The Position

An exciting, new opportunity has become available in Family Connect and Support for a Program Worker to join our new dedicated early childhood education program, Brighter Beginnings. FCS Brighter Beginnings is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and the Department of Education (DoE). It builds on the Family Connect and Support (FCS) program to provide early, practical support to families with children aged 0–5 years. This support is delivered through FCS workers who engage with Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services such as preschools and childcare centres. Brighter Beginnings is an innovative early childhood education program designed to give children the strongest possible start to learning and life. The program focuses on early intervention, school readiness, and supporting children and families who may experience vulnerability or barriers to accessing early childhood education. Through a trauma-informed, Brighter Beginnings works in partnership with families, community services, and early learning providers to build children’s social, emotional, and developmental foundations before they enter formal schooling. The Program Worker, FCS, Brighter Beginnings, works alongside families, children and young people from a person-centred evidence-based approach that promotes self-determination. Though client led goal planning, and connecting families to culturally appropriate supports and services, the Program Worker will assist in improving the social and emotional wellbeing of children and their families. This role is currently funded until 31 December 2027.

Requirements

Prior experience in School network highly desired
Working with Children and a National Police Check are mandatory requirements for all staff.

Responsibilities

Outreach in Early Learning: FCS workers connect with families directly through Department of Education-funded preschools and childcare centers
Tailored Assistance: Workers provide flexible, tailored support to meet unique family needs, including advice, resources, and referrals to other support services
Service Coordination: Workers deliver information sessions and activities to support a connected service system, making it easier for families to seek help
Support customers to access services in a timely and appropriate manner, including provision of relevant information about services to customers, their families, carers and community partners
Develop meaningful and respectful relationships and communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
Provide high quality person-centred supports and brief interventions to customers, their families and carers that are strengths based and culturally responsive and in line with Social Futures Practice Framework and National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing.
Collect, and ensure integrity of, data using relevant information systems to meet commissioning and outcome-based reporting requirements
Recommend expenditure for customers in line with brokerage guidelines
Ensure all customer work requirements are completed in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures, including quality improvement requirements
Comply with procedures to ensure the effective reporting of quality, safety, and risk issues and provide regular reports to ensure reporting requirements are met
Participate in supervision activities including case reviews and case audits
Ensure relevant mandatory reporting requirements are met in line with legislative and policy requirements
Participate in business planning processes within the Team / Branch and provide feedback on enhancement to program services and delivery / identify opportunities for improvement