Senior Policy Advisor

at  Department of Education

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: Melbourne | CBD
Job type: Full time
Organisation: Department of Education
Salary: $109,730 - $132,764
Occupation: Policy
Reference: VG/1840735

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Free Kinder Unit is a part of the Early Learning Funding and Operations Branch. It is responsible for the implementation of the Government’s Free Kinder commitment for three- and four year-olds and ongoing policy work to ensure the effective implementation of this funding and the broader Best Start Best Life Reform.

Key responsibilities of the Unit include:

• providing policy advice and oversight of the development and delivery of Free Kinder funding
• resolving kindergarten funding queries relating to Free Kinder
• monitoring kindergarten services participating in Free Kinder to assess compliance
• review and alignment of kindergarten funding policy to facilitate and support the introduction of Prep-Prep and the new Arrivals system.

This Unit also works across the Early Learning Operations and Monitoring Division to identify and implement strategic opportunities that build on and improve current practices and ensures funding can be used as effectively as possible to drive positive outcomes for children.
This role will be part of a team that supports a range of work relating to the implementation of Free Kinder which requires strategic and operational policy development and implementation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Develop, implement and monitor policy for Government’s ongoing commitment to implement Free Kinder, including eligibility requirements and funding conditions, appropriate monitoring and compliance arrangements, and interactions with Commonwealth funding policies, particularly for long day care services to ensure policy intent is met.
• Provide Free Kinder policy advice and respond to funding queries. This includes the management of broader kindergarten policy areas and contributing to priority projects that relate closely to the Free Kinder initiative, including the Best Start Best Life Reforms and introduction of Pre-Prep, participation and attendance data collection, analysis and reporting, communications and provider accountability.
• Prepare and source information to support the engagement of senior leaders with peak bodies, local government and the broader sector to successfully implement the Free Kinder initiative.
• Review and develop kindergarten funding policy to align the policy intent of and support the roll-out of Pre-Prep.
• Monitor the capacity and functionality of relevant systems such as the Kindergarten Information Management System (KIMS) and Arrivals to collect, quality assure, analyse and report internal and external data relating to funding for and participation in the Free Kinder program. Also provide advice and recommendations on requirements to adjust and improve these systems.
• Contribute to the culture of a high performing team.

Key responsibilities of the Early Learning Funding and Operations Branch include:

• Kindergarten organisational and program requirements as set out in the Kindergarten Funding Guide
• Setting funding rates and eligibility for all kindergarten setting types and subsidies
• Free Kinder
• Kindergarten data collection, monitoring and reporting

Key responsibilities of the Early Learning Sector Monitoring and Support Branch include:

• Kindergarten contract management policy and oversight
• Leading financial assessment and monitoring of funded kindergarten providers
• Data insights and analytics
• Centrally managed and procured kindergarten supports, including payroll and IT
• Early Years Management
• Central Enrolment and Registration
• Coordination of ECE’s contribution to key departmental processes including business planning, the annual report, budget submissions and parliamentary committees