Associate Professor, Early Childhood

• Full-time, Ongoing position at Academic Level D.
• Bankstown campus with flexible working arrangements.
• Salary: $179,822 – $197,660 per annum, plus 17% Super and Leave Loading.

Lead Early Childhood Education teaching, research and partnerships in the School of Education.

The Opportunity
You will provide academic leadership in Early Childhood Education within the School of Education, contributing to high-quality teaching, research and scholarly activity. You will teach into Initial Teacher Education programs for Early Childhood Education and relevant postgraduate specialist programs.

You will lead the ongoing development of undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum, ensuring program design, delivery, assessment and learning resources are contemporary and aligned to the needs of educators, leaders and students. 

You will also advance early childhood research, publish in high-impact journals, prepare external grant proposals and supervise postgraduate research students. As an Associate Professor, you will provide discipline leadership, mentor colleagues, contribute to governance and build effective partnerships across the School, Faculty, University, education sector, regulatory bodies and community organisations.

What Success Looks Like:

• Lead the development and delivery of contemporary undergraduate and postgraduate Early Childhood Education programs.
• Strengthen student experience through quality teaching, research-informed learning and professional placement support.
• Build a strong research profile through high-quality publications and external grant activity.
• Supervise, mentor and support postgraduate research students and academic colleagues.
• Maintain productive partnerships with early learning settings, regulatory bodies and community partners.

Please refer to the Position Description for full details.

About You

• PhD or EdD in Early Childhood Education.
• Extensive tertiary teaching experience in Early Childhood Education, including curriculum design, delivery, assessment and e-learning methods.
• Extensive experience developing early childhood curriculum aligned with educator and leader development in early childhood settings.
• Demonstrated experience supervising Honours and Higher Degree research students.
• Strong research record, including high-quality publications, successful grant activity, research leadership and collaboration with the teaching profession and community partners.

Benefits
We invest in the people who make our mission possible. Alongside a rewarding career, we offer a range of benefits designed to support your financial, personal and family wellbeing.

• Financial benefits: Access to staff-only products and offers with selected banking partners, salary sacrifice options for onsite parking, and novated motor vehicle leasing.
• Health and wellbeing support: Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP), complimentary annual flu vaccination, eligibility for Fitness Passport membership, and access to discounted private health cover.
• Onsite childcare: Long day care and early learning services operate at our Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta, and Penrith campuses. Staff may be eligible for discounted fees and salary packaging, with places subject to centre capacity.

Application Details

• Position Enquiries: Direct to Michele Simons, Dean, School of Education via michele.simons@westernsydney.edu.au. Please include the job reference code REF1257X.
• Closing Date: 11:59pm, Sunday 7 June 2026. 
• Checks: Appointment to this position is subject to a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for paid employment in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW).
• Working Rights: You must provide evidence of full-time working rights in Australia at application.
• How to Apply: Please note that only applications submitted via the University’s online recruitment system will be considered. As part of your online application, you will be asked to respond to screening questions addressing the key qualifications, experiences and skills required for this position.

Belonging at Western
We are committed to substantive equality as outlined in our Equal Opportunity Policy. We actively encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, candidates of all gender identities and expressions, people of all abilities, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For Reasonable Adjustments during the application process, please contact talentacquisitionteam@westernsydney.edu.au.

About Western
This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger. By joining Western Sydney University, you become a valued member of our community. As our region changes, so too does our university. Western is boldly different, energetic, global, diverse, dynamic, and youthful.

Our mission is to deliver student success, impactful research, and stronger communities. As part of our team, you will have a stake in shaping the future of education, broadening horizons, and changing lives. Making a difference starts at Western.

For the latest please visit our website and LinkedIn.