Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Assistant Principal - Range 1
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 1526365
1. Educational Leadership
(i) Outstanding capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership of a school or college.
(ii) Highly developed skills in leading and managing change including the leadership of others in the process of change.
2. Financial, managerial and administrative ability
(i) Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.
3. Planning, policy and program development and review
(i) Exemplary values appropriate to the development of student learning with a demonstrated capacity to achieve high quality student outcomes.
(ii) Demonstrated ability to implement Department policies to a high level.
(iii) An understanding of, and a commitment to the use of learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.
4. Leadership of staff and students
(i) A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team.
(Ii) A clear capacity to foster a learning environment that takes account of the individual needs of students and helps students to develop their special abilities and talents.
5. Interpersonal and communication skills
(i) Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group and community contexts.
(ii) An ability to work with parents and the community, to develop a strong learning environment.
The assistant principal reports directly to the principal.
Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. In exercising the responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget. Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.
The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involve assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students.
Typically assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.
Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, 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 safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
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.
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:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:
Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found at Recruitment in Schools.
Social - community and demographics
Established in 1891, Sunshine Primary School (SPS) is located in the City of Brimbank, west of Melbourne. Our community is diverse in its socio-economic and cultural backgrounds with approximately 40% of our students having a language background other than English. Sunshine PS has 20 equivalent full-time staff: 2 Principal class, 14 teachers and 8 Education Support staff. The school is driven by strong values and the belief that every student can achieve success. The school culture is focused on ensuring effective and enriched learning for all students through individualised instruction. There is a focus on continuous improvement which is based on research to ensure effective teaching and learning and to improve student learning outcomes. Sunshine Primary School fosters an environment where children share responsibility for their own learning and where all community members work together to ensure all students maximise every educational opportunity possible. Sunshine Primary School enjoys a productive partnership with the local Deer Park/Sunshine school network, working together to build a resilient and productive learning community for all. Together we work as a community of practice to share curriculum ideas and strategies to improve the outcomes for the students in the Deer Park/Sunshine area. The network is continuing to support our focus on improving student learning outcomes in student learning, health and wellbeing.
Educational
The school is driven by strong values and the belief that every student can achieve success. The school culture is focused on ensuring effective and enriched learning for all students, through a focus on continuous improvement of teaching pedagogy to improve student learning outcomes and fosters an environment where children share responsibility for their own learning and where all community members work together to ensure all students maximise every educational opportunity possible.
The core of the school is centred around the School Wide Positive Behaviours Framework where all members of the community underwent a process of identifying what is important to us all as a learning community. Our three core values of being Responsible, Respectful and Safe underpin all that we do.
Currently there are 8 classrooms from Foundation to Year Six and the school offers Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, STEM and Auslan as specialist programs. The school offers provision for students who need extra support in both learning and wellbeing. Small class sizes are a feature across the school, with numbers currently at an average of 22. The school prides itself on the close working relationship between teachers and parents with a strong emphasis on teamwork and support to provide an outstanding education for every child at Sunshine Primary School.
Facilities
Our aim for Sunshine Primary School is to develop 21st Century learning whilst maintaining the charm of our 19th Century Heritage building. The school has recently undergone an extensive building upgrade and extension. The 11.3 million dollar building modernisation project was completed in 2024. Our double storey, red brick building is set in extensive, well established grounds and contains spacious classrooms, STEM, Art, Music rooms, administration area, staff area, first aid room and new Library. All classrooms are equipped with heating and cooling. The school has a vibrant and functional Foundation Wing, Multipurpose hall and canteen.
The secure and attractive school grounds feature extensive adventure playground equipment, a refurbished oval, gardens and asphalted areas, where students can participate in a variety of active games and sports, as well as more passive activities.
Community
Our parents and care givers are a vital part of the lifeblood at Sunshine Primary School and take an active interest in all aspects of their children¿s lives. There is a major focus on building the home school-partnership to improve student learning outcomes. Parents are able to participate through a variety of formal and informal activities that support the engagement and learning of students through School Council, volunteering in the classroom, participating in learning celebrations, whole school events, parent focus groups and working parties.
Our Vision
At Sunshine Primary School all students are provided with opportunities to reach their personal best in a challenging and supportive learning environment.
Our aim is to develop resilient and productive members of the community by valuing and catering for individual, social, cultural and academic differences.
Our Mission
(Actions to take to make sure we achieve our vision)
At Sunshine Primary School our Teachers will:
¿ plan for and implement a curriculum based on high expectations which are realistic, individualised and achievable.
¿ work with students to establish challenging and achievable personal goals.
¿ value and embrace the individual, social, cultural and academic differences within the school community.
At Sunshine Primary School our Students will:
¿ be open to ¿take on¿ every learning opportunity and challenge themselves everyday.
¿ focus and work towards achieving their own personal goals.
¿ respect and support the differences of others in our school community
At Sunshine Primary School our Parents will:
¿ work collaboratively with the school to support and engage in their child¿s academic and social development.
¿ have an understanding of and support their child¿s individual learning goals.
¿ be collectively responsible for the learning and development of Sunshine Primary School students by being proactive members of the school community
Our Values
We shine when we are Respectful, Responsible and Safe
A tour of the school will be available on Tuesday 12th May 2026 at 4.00pm.
Please call the school to book a tour 8311 5700