Indigenous Storyteller

Location: Redfern and Parramatta, future planned expansion in Mount Druitt, with substantial travel across greater Sydney. 

Term: Full-time, 38 hours per week. 

Reports to: School Programs Manager

Direct Reports: None

Salary & Conditions: $110,000 pa plus superannuation. Fringe benefit may be applicable, providing up to $16k per year tax free. This is an identified position - being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent is a genuine requirement of the role. The role is for two years, renewable, with a three month probation period. 

About Story Factory:

At Story Factory, we believe that stories can change lives. We focus on enriching the lives of young people in under-resourced communities through quality creative writing programs, improving their writing skills, increasing their confidence and expanding their future prospects. 

Story Factory runs a wide variety of fun and engaging creative writing programs at primary and high schools across Sydney and Western Sydney, at our centres in Redfern and Parramatta, and digitally across Australia.  

Since opening in 2012, our achievements include:

• 70,000+ student enrolments, with more than 8,000 enrolments in 2024;
• 15% of student are Indigenous and 49% are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• Recognition of our work with multiple awards, including a Secretary’s Award for Excellence in the 2018 Public Education Foundation Awards, and Executive Director and Co-founder Catherine Keenan AM being named the 2016 Australian of the Year Local Hero.

We are currently in the third year of a five-year strategy that will see us grow the reach and impact of our work. 

For further information visit: https://www.storyfactory.org.au/ 

The role:

The Indigenous Storyteller leads creative writing workshops with primary and high-school students, either in-person or online, at schools or at our centres with a particular focus on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. They deliver established Story Factory programs and may also collaborate with or support other team members to develop new creative writing programs that respond to students’ needs and interests. The Indigenous Storyteller supports the Indigenous Programming Lead to review and include Indigenous content across all our programs. Engaging with diverse communities and fostering respectful relationships is a key part of the role.

The Indigenous Storyteller will work full time, Monday to Friday. Ordinarily they will work 9am-5pm but may need to start early or finish late for some workshops. They will be able to adjust hours accordingly. There may be some flexibility to occasionally work from home.

Story Factory is a Child Safe Organisation. Like all staff at Story Factory, the Indigenous Storyteller must adhere to our Code of Conduct at all times. A current Working with Children Check and Police Check are prerequisites.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Deliver Story Factory’s range of creative writing programs to young people aged 7 to 17 across schools, Story Factory centres and online.
• Collaborate with the Indigenous Programming Lead and Program Managers to ensure programs are culturally appropriate and inclusive, and that workshops are welcoming to students and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Differentiate programs as needed to ensure programs support students of all abilities and backgrounds.
• Supervise volunteers and interns during workshops, ensuring they are appropriately supported and thanked.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all workshops, including lesson plans and rolls for both students and volunteers, and ensure wraps and evaluations are completed in a timely fashion.
• Collaborate with and support other team members to develop new creative writing programs as needed, including writing lesson plans and resources.
• Collect and curate student work for publication at the end of each program.
• Collaborate with key staff to develop strong relationships with young people and their communities.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential: 

• A passion for nurturing creativity in young people;
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality creative writing programs, with an inclusive and culturally sensitive approach, to diverse student groups;
• Exceptional communication and teaching skills, and a love of writing;
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team to develop and implement creative writing programs;
• Strong organisational skills, with attention to detail in managing workshop records and publications.

Desirable:

• A teaching qualification is desirable but not essential, if the candidate has significant experience as an educator or workshop facilitator;
• Drivers licence and the ability to travel across Sydney and Western Sydney.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At Story Factory, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people. 

This is an identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role - being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent is a genuine requirement of the position.

If you require specific support to apply for this position, please email jobs@storyfactory.org.au. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, or request further information, please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to jobs@storyfactory.org.au.