REED seeks recent retirees in the Wheatbelt who want to travel regional WA

The Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED) is seeking dedicated, retired early childhood teachers and early childhood educators who enjoy travel to register for a pool of casual or relief staff. 

As a not-for-profit organisation, REED, who are the licensee for 19 child care services throughout the Wheatbelt, is trying innovative ideas and strategies to attract and maintain qualified educators to work in their child care centres.

The call comes as the provider seeks to overcome staffing challenges which have been exacerbated by COVID-19, border closures and Federal Government changes to visa requirements and qualifications.

As part of the call out, REED shared that in the West Australian wheatbelt, attracting and maintaining suitably qualified and willing staff is difficult, a challenge not just limited to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. 

Despite advertising locally and throughout the state, REED has received limited applications for their vacant positions., and now seeks “active, fit, recently retired Early Childhood Teachers and Early Childhood Workers who enjoy working with young children and their families” offering “a rewarding opportunity to combine an exploration of the Wheatbelt region” with contributing to the development of young children and the social and economic wellbeing of families and communities.

Retirees, including ‘Grey Nomads’, and the ‘hidden’ qualified people are invited to register interest in joining a casual staff pool being established to fill positions that become available from time to time.

REED Centres range in size from 12 places to 59 places, providing ample opportunity to work with small groups of children and their families in friendly, rural communities throughout the Wheatbelt and Mid West.

To be suitable, applicants will require: 

• a Bachelor of Early Childhood degree or equivalent approved by ACECQA

OR

• Diploma or Certificate 111 in Children’s Service or Early Childhood Education and Care, or be working towards a Diploma or Certificate

AND

• Current Working with Children Check or willingness to apply for a Working with Children Check
• First Aid, Anaphylaxis & Asthma training or willingness to complete training.

Familiarity with the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standard is preferable, or willingness to do some background reading which will be provided once a member of the staff pool.

Those who are interested in working for REED can register for short or long term, full time or part time relief positions in a specific location or any REED location. 

In a part time position there will be “plenty of time” to explore the surrounding countryside, and enjoy the social environment offered by small regional towns.

REED offers the opportunity for paid employment under Children’s Services Award conditions, and workers are encouraged to seek advice regarding any impact of paid employment on superannuation, pension and benefit entitlements. Alternatively, workers may prefer to work in a voluntary capacity and be reimbursed for an agreed level of expenses.

People with or without their own caravan accommodation are invited to register interest by contacting Philippa Gardener on [email protected] or 0402017424.   

REED was established in March 2018 with strong bi-partisan support in Western Australia as a single governance and management organisation with the goal of achieving sustainability of small not for profit child care centres throughout the Wheatbelt region.   It now has centres and services in the following locations: Brookton, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Darkan, Dowerin, Hyden, Merredin, Mukinbudin, Narembeen, Narrogin, Pingelly, Quairading, Wickepin, Wundowie, Yilgarn (Southern Cross).