2027 Early Childhood Opportunities

Looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference every day?

We're inviting applications from passionate Early Childhood Teachers and Educators (Diploma or Cert III qualified) to join Meli's 2027 talent intake across our network of over 30 kindergartens and preschools.

As one of the region's leading early childhood providers, Meli operates kindergartens and preschools across Geelong, the Bellarine and Colac.

Whether you're looking for a new opportunity, career growth, or a workplace where you can truly thrive, we encourage you to apply for our 2027 talent intake.

What You'll bring

We’re looking to connect with Educators & Teachers who bring dedication, empathy, and expertise to their practice. If that sounds like you, here’s what we’d love to see in your background: 

• A relevant qualification in Early Childhood Education (Bachelor, Diploma, or Cert III as approved by ACECQA)
• A valid Working with Children Check for Educators or VIT registration for Early Childhood Teacher.
• Knowledge of the National Education and Care Services Act and Regulations 2011, the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework, and the ECEC National Quality Framework and Standards
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• A passion for supporting children’s development through creative, reflective, and responsive teaching practices

Why Educators Choose Meli

At Meli, you'll be surrounded by people who genuinely care about children, families and each other. You'll join supportive teams that value collaboration, respect and continuous improvement.

We invest in your growth through mentoring from experienced pedagogical leaders, professional learning opportunities and dedicated annual events that bring our early years teams together to connect, learn and celebrate.

As part of one of the region's leading community service organisations, the work you do each day helps strengthen families and create positive outcomes across our communities.

What Your Day Could Look Like

Every day brings opportunities to inspire young learners. You might be setting up engaging play spaces, supporting children to build confidence and independence, sharing meaningful moments with families, or collaborating with colleagues to create rich learning experiences.

Many of our roles offer consistency within a home service, with opportunities to pick up additional shifts through our relief team if you're looking for extra variety and flexibility.

Supporting you to thrive

We value the experience, knowledge and passion you bring to early childhood education.

Educators and Teachers are paid according to their qualification level under the VECTEA agreement, with opportunities for career progression, leadership development and flexible work arrangements across our network through a variety of services and relief work.

Studying Early Childhood Education?

We support part-time employees who are currently studying through paid placement opportunities across our kindergarten network, helping you gain practical experience while building your career with Meli.

What makes Meli Different

We know the little things make a big difference.
Here's what our teams tell us they value most:

• Three dedicated organisational days each year (student-free) to connect, reflect and prepare
• Protected non-contact time. If you're required to step into ratio, we'll make sure you get that time back
• Guaranteed set-up time at the beginning of each day
• Beautifully maintained learning environments
• Access to mentoring and support from experienced pedagogical leaders
• Opportunities to work across our network of services and locations

What Happens Next?

After applications close, we'll review all submissions and invite shortlisted candidates to participate in our recruitment process.

• Educators (Cert III and Diploma qualified) will be invited to attend an Assessment Centre on or around the 10^th-13th of October, where they'll have the opportunity to showcase their skills, experience and approach to early childhood education.
• Early Childhood Teachers will be invited to attend an individual interview with our recruitment panel.

Successful candidates will be considered for opportunities across our 2027 vacancies, with placements based on qualifications, experience, availability and preferred locations.

Join Our 2027 Talent Intake

If you're passionate about creating environments where children can learn, grow and thrive, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and discover how your next career opportunity could begin with Meli.

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