Teacher/Storyteller

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Job Title: Teacher/Storyteller

Location: The role will be based at our Redfern and Parramatta centres and may also involve extensive travel to schools across Sydney and Western Sydney.  

Term: Full-time, 38 hours per week. 

Reports to: Storyteller Manager

Direct Reports: 0

Salary: $88,400k plus superannuation. Fringe benefit is available, providing an additional $16k per year tax free. For more information, click here.

About Story Factory:

​​Story Factory is a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people aged 7 to 17 based in Sydney and Western Sydney. Our mission is to enrich the lives of young people from under resourced communities through creative writing and storytelling.

Since opening in 2012, we have taken more than 65,000 student enrolments, with more than 8,000 enrolments in 2024. 15% of our students are Indigenous and 49% are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We have won a number of awards for our work, including a Secretary’s Award for Excellence in the Public Education Foundation Awards. We have a diverse team of educators and writers who deliver our programs in a range of settings: at primary and high schools across Sydney and Western Sydney; after school and in the holidays at our centres in Redfern and Parramatta; and digitally to schools across Australia. We also collaborate with other arts and cultural organisations, and writers and artists, to create and deliver special projects that bring together young people from various schools and culminate in a public outcome, from professionally published books to exhibitions. To remove barriers to entry, all programs are offered free to young people and eligible schools. 

Our award-winning programs are underpinned by our Theory of Change, and multiple external, independent evaluations have shown that we support young people to improve their literacy and develop their confidence as writers. A recent evaluation also showed the significant positive impact our year-long poetry- and novella-writing programs have on young people’s wellbeing: their sense of agency, identity and belonging.

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/ 

• Click link to view our Theory of Change document
• Click link to view our Strategic Plan document, including our Values
• Click link to view our Reconciliation Action Plan document
• Click link to view the latest Annual Report document 

Position Overview and Purpose of the role:

The Teacher/Storyteller position is an educator role that enables creativity and literacy.  It involves leading and facilitating creative writing workshops with students in high school and primary school, either in-person or online, at schools or at our centres. The position involves working across our Redfern, Mount Druitt and Parramatta centres and requires travel to schools and community venues for workshop delivery. The Teacher/Storyteller delivers 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 Teacher/ Storyteller also manages volunteers in workshops, keeps accurate records, and performs other administrative duties such as ensuring evaluations are completed for all programs. Engaging with diverse communities and fostering respectful relationships are key aspects of the role. Delivery of Story Factory workshops focuses on a student-centred approach and the organisation’s mission of developing literacy and student voice.

The Position and its Responsibilities:

The Teacher/Storyteller will work under the direction of a Storyteller Manager, and in collaboration with the whole Storytelling Team. They will lead a range of engaging creative writing workshops with students in upper primary and high school (primarily Stages 2-5), all designed to build young people’s literacy and help them find their voice. Most programs will be delivered in primary and high schools in Sydney and across Western Sydney, with some programs run after school and during the holidays at Story Factory’s centres in Redfern or Parramatta, online, and at our new hub opening in Mt Druitt in 2025. 

At least initially, the Teacher/Storyteller will deliver creative writing programs we have already developed, but they may later work with the team to develop new and innovative creative writing programs responding to students’ needs and interests. They will collaborate with the whole Storytelling team to ensure all programs are culturally appropriate, draw on diverse cultures, and give students of all abilities opportunities to authentically express their ideas and beliefs.

The ideal candidate will be an exceptional, experienced teacher or facilitator with a passion for nurturing creativity in young people, and the drive to deliver innovative creative writing programs that become a benchmark in the field. They will have a strong understanding of how to support and differentiate programming for diverse learners, and a pedagogical approach that allows all young people to develop their literacy and find their voice. The applicant must be willing to work across both high school and primary school.

The Teacher/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 work from home. 

Story Factory is a Child Safe Organisation. The Storyteller will be expected to follow our Code of Conduct at all times, and be a role model for the Story Factory community in all matters of child safety. The successful applicant must undertake a Police Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement. The role has a three month probation period.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Deliver Story Factory’s range of creative writing programs to young people aged 7 to 17 across schools, Story Factory centres and online.
2. Differentiate programs as needed to ensure programs support students of all abilities and backgrounds.
3. Ensure that programs are conducted in line with Story Factory’s Theory of Change, Mission, Vision and Values.
4. Supervise volunteers and interns during workshops, ensuring they are appropriately supported and thanked.
5. Ensure all programs are culturally appropriate and inclusive, and that workshops are welcoming to students and families from diverse backgrounds.
6. Maintain accurate and timely records of all workshops, including lesson plans and rolls for both students and volunteers, and ensure evaluations are completed in a timely fashion.
7. Collect and curate student work for publication at the end of each program.
8. The Teacher/Storyteller may also collaborate with and support other team members to develop new creative writing programs as needed, including writing lesson plans and resources.  
9. Maintain and develop relationships with staff in our partner schools, community organisations and families. 

STRATEGIC IMPACT

Short term (6 months): 

• Deliver high-quality creative writing workshops that meet the needs of students across diverse settings, ensuring engagement and participation.
• Collaborate with the Storytelling Team to design and implement new programs, focusing on responding to student interests and needs.
• Adhere to consistent processes for managing workshop records and curating student work for publication.

Long term (2 years): 

• Deliver innovative creative writing programs that set a benchmark in the field, contributing to Story Factory’s reputation in youth storytelling.
• Foster strong relationships with young people, volunteers, interns and community members, for continued support and engagement in workshops.
• Strengthen Story Factory’s presence in Sydney and Western Sydney, helping to grow participation and impact. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential: 

1. Education qualifications and a minimum of two years’ teaching or facilitation experience;
2. Exceptional communication and teaching skills, and a love of writing;
3. Inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to working with students from diverse backgrounds; 
4. Ability to work collaboratively with a team to develop and implement creative writing programs;
5. Strong ability to engage with students, families, educators and volunteers, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment;
6. Strong organisational skills, with attention to detail in managing workshop records and publications.
7. Willingness to travel to schools and centres across the Greater Sydney region. 

Desirable:

1. 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. 

We encourage people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. Residents of Greater Western Sydney are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you require specific support to apply for this position, please advise the recruiting manager whose contact details are listed in the advertisement. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria below. 

Applications close at 5pm on May 12th 2025.