2025 Es1-4 Student Wellbeing Coordinator/Mental Health Practioner

Job posted: 18/11/2024
Location: Melbourne | Southern Metropolitan
Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025 - 19/12/2025
Organisation: Schools (Government)
Salary: Salary not specified
Occupation: Health and Allied Health
Reference: 1452447
Location Profile Mount Waverley Secondary College, established in 1964, provides a co-educational setting with a unique Junior Campus for Years 7 and 8 and a Senior Campus for Years 9 to 12. The college, with enrolments of approximately 1800 students, is an established learning community, recognised locally, nationally and internationally for transforming teaching and learning culture.
The college directs significant financial, personnel and resource investment to advance the curriculum, pedagogical and assessment repertoire of all teachers and to build leadership capacity that supports effective change.
Students have access to an extensive curriculum that offers an opportunity for enhancement and support, underpinned by the three drivers of community , choice and engagement .
Students are selected for an enrichment class in Years 7 to 9 and university subjects are available at Year 12. Students participate in enrichment programs which may include poetry competitions, interschool debating, mathematics competitions, National Chemistry Quiz, Science Talent Search, Da Vinci Decathlon, Australian Computer Competition, Tournament of Minds, ASX competition, SCRAM and World skills.
There is an expectation of academic excellence with frameworks in place to support students. Literacy and numeracy intervention programs operate from Years 7 to 9.
Co-curricular programs include overseas Sister School exchanges, instrumental music, camps and excursions, drama or musical productions, careers and work experience programs, leadership forums and robotics. A choice of inter-school sports and special interest clubs including interschool debating, as well as attendance at special events such as the Formal Dinner, Valedictory Dinner and Presentation Night, add to our vibrant community.
Mount Waverley Secondary College has an outstanding record of achievement. It has an excellent reputation for providing an academic learning environment resulting in a high proportion of our students gaining entrance to tertiary education institutions.
The learning taking place in the flexible learning spaces at the Junior Campus is attracting significant local, national and international interest and is producing enhanced levels of student learning and engagement.
Role The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.
Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:
Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities. Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns. Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required. The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
Who May Apply Required Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA. For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health. For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers. For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA. For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Demonstrated direct counselling experience. A current Working With Children Check. EEO AND OHS Commitment Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
Child Safe Standards Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.
All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
Conditions of Employment All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. This position is based on our junior campus (years 7 & 8). Hours of attendance are Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.06pm. Attendance is not required over the school vacation periods.
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