Artist Educator

About the role

The Art Program is an art in health service which uses the arts – in all its forms – to help improve the lives of patients, families, carers and staff across Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Working in partnership with the health and the arts sectors, the program provides accessible and meaningful opportunities for artistic expression that aid patient’s physical, mental, and emotional recovery.

The Artist Educator will develop and deliver the Arts Learning Program in the Hospital environment through experiences with patients and families, clinicians and the broader Health community. They will work with the Art Program Lead, to integrate a holistic approach to the Art Program at large inclusive of the collection, temporary exhibition and learning programs. The Artist Educator is encouraged to bring their practice to the position, through emphasising the artistic process over the final outcome.

As part of this 12-month part time contract, the Artist Educator will have a focus on the development and delivery of creative resources, namely art packs, which draw on Arts in Health methodologies to provide patients and families opportunities to partake in guided and independent creative arts activities. These creative resources are delivered at scale, utilising volunteers, often from corporate supporters, to assemble and replicate the resources.

The Artist Educator will play a crucial role in ensuring the Art Program is accessible, by cultivating a positive culture which facilitates curiosity, community and belonging within the Hospital environment.

The Artist Educator will primarily be based at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead with some engagements at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, SCHF King St office and offsite locations.

Job Responsibilities:

Arts Learning Programs

• Develop and deliver arts learning programs for a diverse range of young people, their families and the wider hospital with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusive practice.
• Design and deliver programming which channels the therapeutic benefits of arts participation addressing, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social wellbeing.
• Work with the Art Program Lead, to integrate a holistic approach to the Art Program at large (collection, exhibition, learning programs).
• Support an expansive approach to artistic practice, including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, puppetry, object design, creative writing, music, dance, play, performance and more, with an emphasis on process over product.
• Collaborate with artists, clinicians, social/youth practitioners and other key stakeholders within the Hospital environment (when relevant) to deliver programs, projects and experiences that allow for individual and collective learning.
• Facilitate the development of “non-medical” safe spaces which prioritise the agency and self-determination of young people.

Creative Resource Development: Art Packs

• Design scalable art packs, including interpretation and instructional materials, which explore the principles of the Art Program, materiality, contemporary arts practice, collection artworks and/or the practice of invited and visiting artists for patients and families to independently engage in creative activities.
• Produce budgets, materials lists, and assembling directions for volunteers to utilise in producing art packs, for broad distribution across SCHN
• Attend volunteering events, communicating the values of SCHF and the Art Program. Lead creative engagement activities reflecting the Art Program and Arts Health practices, Guide volunteers in the production of art packs.
• Liaise with SCHF Relationship Managers and fundraising teams in timetabling corporate volunteering events and providing information as required.
• Oversee distribution of art packs across Sydney Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Westmead in collaboration with Donor and Patient Experience team.

Administration Support

• Coordinate the ordering, storage and use of art materials.
• Document workshops and patient interactions so that impact can be measured and communicated.
• Pull timely reports and review data in relationship to arts learning experiences delivered and interaction points.
• Determine scheduling requirements in collaboration with Art Program staff at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
• Evaluate activities as required
• Arrange quotes, invoices, payments and budget tracking.
• Ensure regular communication of results and priorities through regular meetings, including WIPS and one-on-ones.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A current practice (arts, music, theatre, performance, dance, writing, education, play-based, creative social practice, or similar)
• Tertiary qualification or equivalent in arts education, fine arts, social practice or similar
• 3+ years’ experience working in the delivery of intergenerational arts learning programs with children, young adults and families
• Experience in working with children with accessibility requirements and/or chronic illness
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• The ability to work autonomously as well as cooperatively in a team environment
• Commitment to centring First Nations knowledge, cultural protocol and voice as an integral component of programming where relevant
• Working knowledge of contemporary art practice and/or arts in health programming
• Current Working with Children Check
• Police check (or willingness to obtain)
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating Art in Health projects is desirable

Please note this advert will close for applications on Thursday, 6th of November 2025.