About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Branch

The Early Childhood Improvement Branch ensures a dedicated team supports Early Childhood providers and services in Areas. The Branch has multiple responsibilities, including supporting services with kindergarten programs and the implementation of the suite of Early Childhood reforms including, Pre-Prep, three-year-old kindergarten and the Best Start, Best Life reforms, as well as driving improvement in service delivery and outcomes for children across the Early Childhood sector.

About the Role

An opportunity is available to join the Mallee Area Early Childhood Improvement Branch as a Senior Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisor. This role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact by supporting the delivery of quality early childhood programs within local communities. 

This is a full-time fixed term position, based in the Mildura or Swan Hill office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert support to early childhood stakeholders, including Early Childhood Education and Care Providers, Local Government Areas, kindergartens, long day care centres, and families, particularly around Department of Education funding and the Best Start, Best Life reforms.
• Lead and support the implementation of various early childhood programs and initiatives, such as the Preschool Support Field Officer Program, Early Start Kindergarten, and Access to Early Learning.
• Work collaboratively with the broader Mallee Early Childhood Improvement Branch to meet shared objectives and support fellow team members, including Early Childhood Performance and Planning Advisors and Early Childhood Funding Advisors.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with a range of service providers, while developing the capacity of the early childhood sector to deliver quality programs, especially for vulnerable children and families.

Attributes

• Demonstrated high-level interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and collaborate with diverse stakeholders across the early childhood sector.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Relevant tertiary qualification in Early Childhood or a related discipline.

Desirable: Recent relevant experience in an early childhood setting or other clearly relevant and transferable knowledge and skills.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Lisa Smyth – lisa.smyth@education.vic.gov.au or 0408 264 662.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026