Job Description Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan
Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025
Organisation: Schools (Government)
Salary: Salary not specified
Occupation: Education and Training
Reference: 1451449
Location Profile At Thornbury High School, we are proud of what we do every day to champion innovation, inclusiveness, and academic excellence. Through our extensive academic and extra-curricular programs, we aim to foster and inspire a new generation of respectful and resilient young people ready to face a rapidly changing world.
In 2024, the school's enrolment is approximately 1100 students. The school has four Principal class, 70 equivalent full-time teachers and 35 Educational Support Staff working together to achieve the school's vision, the central tenets of which are:
High academic expectations and standards A safe and secure learning environment A wide range of opportunities for students to pursue individual and collective aspirations A recent highlight was winning 'The Age' Schools that Excel Award for sustained improvement in VCE results. In 2023 the VCE median study score again reached 31, with 8.1% of students achieving study scores of 40 and above.
Our results in finding post-school pathways for senior students remain above the state median. The school continues to implement key teaching and learning strategies with a strong literacy and numeracy underpinning through our reinvigorated professional learning program.
Thornbury High's many strengths include our instrumental music program that includes free instrumental music tuition to all year seven and eight students as part of the performing arts curriculum, the recently expanded Sports Academy program and our Italian language immersion program.
The school has redeveloped its facilities recently completing stage two of our masterplan; a $14.9 million STEAM Centre. Our stage one Performing Arts and Sports Centre completed in 2020 has added to the vibrant teaching and learning program in those areas.
Thornbury High School values diversity in all its forms and models this in our day-to-day practices. The benefits of this are evident in the deep pride and sense of belonging within our school community. The school also conducts its own student-led annual bullying survey which has contributed to the development of a very safe and secure learning environment at the school.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands, the Wurundjeri People and pay our respects to their elders past and present.
Selection Criteria Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs. Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information. 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. 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. Education support class level 1 range 4 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.
As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
Responsibilities Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff. Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school. Liaising with other department areas and external service providers where necessary. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development. Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent. Who May Apply Required
Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Demonstrated direct counselling experience. A current Working With Children Check. Desirable
For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology. For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential. For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers. For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement. For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA). 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. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website. #J-18808-Ljbffr