Spielwelt German Parents Association is a not for profit organisation running children’s programs in German in Canberra 
Working for Us
Even if we don’t have a current vacancy, from time to time we do need staff… so it is always worthwhile to tell us about yourself and enquire about working for us.
The German Australian Playschool caters for 3-5 year olds, in Turner ACT, and is run by a small team of dedicated professionals, offering a wonderful program in German, in a loving caring environment.
The GAP operates during ACT school terms and has optional holiday sessions during term breaks and summer holidays.
The minimum requirements for educators at the GAP are to:
- be wonderful with children aged 3-5 years old
- be a good team player
- be eligible for (or already hold) a Working with Vulnerable People Card
- be prepared to undertake (or already hold) a First Aid certificate in Australia
- be a permanent resident, Australian citizen or have a valid work permit
- head teachers only: a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (or similar), or other early childhood education teaching or sozialpedagogik qualifications (gained in Australia or overseas)
The ideal candidate will also have:
- prior children’s services or early childhood teaching experience
- native German-speaking fluency
If you or someone you know would like to join our team, we look forward to hearing from you!
Expressions of interest and CVs can be sent to steve.d@spielwelt.org.au
Our interview process
The teacher interview process has three parts: education, care and practicalities.
- Firstly, the education: The candidate and a committee member come in to join our morning circle, the teacher does roll call and introduces the candidate to the class. If you are applying as a head teacher, then you will get to deliver a short structured education session of some sort to the children. This can be anything you like: a game, a new song, a Bewegungslied, a Bewegungsgeschichte, a craft or little activity to last about ten minutes or longer if multiple activities. If the weather is nice, it could be outdoors. Some candidates do a single activity, and some do a couple of activities based on a theme (for example, a song about butterflies, a butterfly dance and then a craft to make them). Check with us first about craft activities as the teacher may already have something planned that week. Do whatever makes you shine.
- Secondly, the care: When the morning circle has finished, the children go to wash their hands and then come to sit at the table. The candidate is observed in how they interact with the children in this non-structured setting. How helpful are they, how do the children respond to them, are they aware of safety issues and dealing with them promptly, how suitable is their tone and how natural is their language, how do they respond to children who are not being considerate of others (and are pushing or being too loud, for example), and so on. The best tip is to be yourself and interact naturally with the children.
- Thirdly, the practicalities: The candidate, committee member and director meet in another room or outdoors, for the usual interview style questions. The questions are usually about past experience, availability, any workplace support or flexibility you would like to request, how you would handle difficult situations, how you handle children displaying challenging behaviour, the best/worst parts of the job in your opinion, and so on.
After this, the candidate can head home, and the committee member and director consult with the other staff and children about their feedback. They prepare a little report to be considered by the committee who will make the hiring decision.
The whole interview takes about three hours.
References are checked. WWVP cards and immunisation status are checked.
Once all candidates have been interviewed, the committee meet to consider a short-list and they choose the successful candidate/s. All candidates are then informed of the outcome.