Wellbeing Support Worker/Youth Worker

Officer Specialist School is a purpose-built facility servicing the needs of students aged between 5-18, with mild to severe intellectual and associated disabilities in the shires of Cardinia and Casey; two of the fastest growing municipalities in Melbourne. The school opened in 2014 and the student population has increased rapidly each year, requiring the recruitment of new staff and additions to our buildings and facilities. There are two departments at the school, Primary and Secondary, which include classrooms, visual and performance arts spaces, food technology kitchens for both departments (including the student-run Shivering Chicken Café), multipurpose spaces, and extensive therapy spaces. Areas for social gathering are also featured. With continued growth, we now have a number of modular buildings including a Performing Arts Hub, Sensory Motor Room, Sustainability Hub, and an Out of School Hours Pilot Program. The school has just opened two newly established sensory playgrounds.
School staff work in transdisciplinary teams that include teaching staff, allied health practitioners, and education support staff to cater for the diverse range of student abilities and needs. Our teaming approach also provides opportunities for staff to learn from one another and share expertise.
Officer Specialist School aims to create reflective and independent learners for life through a learning community that provides a challenging and secure environment responsive to individual learning needs. We believe that effective learning occurs when outstanding and innovative teaching staff provide a variety of tasks that actively engage students who are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. The expectation is that students will be successful and enthusiastic learners capable of building positive relationships.
Officer Specialist School believes that every child can and will learn in an environment of dignity and respect. It is the role of the school and its community to build on a child's strengths and talents to ensure that each child reaches their full potential.
The school community has a commitment to ensuring that our students are offered a high-quality education enhanced by a caring and supportive environment. Parents and members of the community at large are welcomed to the school and encouraged to participate in a range of activities and programs, including a very active Parents and Friends Association. Much emphasis is placed on educational opportunities, inviting the community to be involved to a greater extent in the school, and establishing the school as a focal point of the community. We value our family-friendly culture.
School values: Safe, Respectful, Friendly, Responsible
Selection CriteriaDemonstrated experience in assessing wellbeing issues and providing wellbeing support to young people with a range of needs.Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people including referral to a range of specialist services as required.Demonstrated ability to establish a constructive rapport with young people, especially students at risk.Demonstrated high-level interpersonal, communication and networking skills and demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with other staff and agencies beyond the school setting.Capacity to work with the Wellbeing Team to help organise and deliver wellbeing programs to young people.Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team.Ability to keep records, write reports and prioritise workflow.RoleAttendance during the school vacation periods is not required for this position.
Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.
Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.
This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g., therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee's position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
ResponsibilitiesManage the design and production of school publications and documents.Provide professional student support services, e.g., therapist and psychological and counselling services.Provide strategic advice on specific support services and their impact on students, school curriculum and services.Manage the use of and access to school resource and reference material.Assess wellbeing issues and provide support to students.Refer students to a range of specialist services as required.Establish a constructive rapport with young people, especially students at risk.Liaise with other staff and agencies beyond the school setting.Work with the Wellbeing team to help organise and deliver wellbeing programs to young people.Keep records, write reports and prioritise workflow.Who May ApplyIndividuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
EEO AND OHS CommitmentApplicants 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. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability.
Child Safe StandardsVictorian 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:
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.Please ensure that your application includes:
A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home).A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section.Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

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