Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Assistant Principal - Range 3
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1530089
SC1 ¿ Educational Leadership
i. Highly developed skills in leading and managing change, including the implementation of whole-school improvement initiatives that promote a positive, calm, safe and orderly learning environment.
ii. Demonstrated ability to analyse and use student data to inform decision-making and drive improved outcomes for students.
SC2 ¿ Financial, managerial and administrative ability
i. Demonstrated capacity to lead complex student management systems, processes and teams to support student engagement, attendance and wellbeing.
ii. Highly developed organisational and resource management skills, including the effective allocation of staffing and supports to meet student needs.
SC3 ¿ Planning, Policy and Program Development
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.
SC4 ¿ Leadership of Staff and Students
i. A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team.
ii. Demonstrated ability to build a positive school culture that promotes high expectations, respectful relationships, student voice and a strong sense of belonging.
iii. Proven ability to work collaboratively with students, families and external agencies to support complex student needs and improve outcomes.
SC5 ¿ Interpersonal and Communication Skills
i. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group and community contexts.
ii. Exemplary values pertaining to personal qualities of objectivity, sensitivity and integrity.
Patterson River Secondary College is seeking an exceptional leader to fill the role of Assistant Principal (Student Operations), following the appointment of Adam Slater as substantive principal at Mornington Secondary College. The successful applicant will join an experienced and stable school leadership team. To support their transition into the role, they will be provided with extensive access to professional development and leadership coaching. The start date for the successful applicant is negotiable.
The Assistant Principal (Student Operations) will lead the school in a number of areas, including:
Student engagement initiatives
School Wide Positive Behaviour Program
Student management policies, procedures and practices
Management of new enrolments Years 7-12 (excluding 6-7 transition)
Manages Leading Teacher team consisting of 6 Year Level Leaders (including associated student management teams) and Student Voice & Empowerment Leader
Oversight of the use of behaviour support plans and modified timetables
Course counselling processes and subject changes
Instructional practices relating to Positive Classroom Management Strategies
Monitoring, review and implementation of the following policies: Student Engagement, Attendance, Uniform, Bullying Prevention, Mobile Phone.
The Assistant Principal (Student Operations) reports to the Principal and works in the principal class team that also includes an Assistant Principal (Curriculum Operations) and Assistant Principal (School Operations).
Patterson River is a great place to work. The school enjoys very strong school community survey results, with an 84% positive endorsement (2% negative) for Cultural Leadership (similar schools = 62%). While we consistently outperform state and similar schools across the survey modules, we record particularly strong results in the areas of Cultural Leadership, Instructional Leadership, as well as Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum. In 2025, the College outperformed statistically similar schools and state in almost every data set administered by the Department of Education.
Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:
Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
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
Tours
Candidates wishing to book a tour can contact our Recruitment Officer Trish Ord via (03) 8770-6700 or [email protected]
School Documentation
Copies of our Strategic Plan, Annual Reports and Annual Implementation Plan can be found via our website. School level documents, including outcome information can be requested by contacting our Recruitment Officer, Trish Ord via (03) 8770-6700 or [email protected]
Further information
Candidates wishing to inquire about the role can contact our College Principal, Daniel Dew on 0431 345 092 or [email protected]
Further information about our College can also be found by visiting our website www.prsc.vic.edu.au or newsletters via: https://inewsletter.co/VYpKOv/archive
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.
Patterson River Secondary College is a friendly, high performing school. We work to create a supportive and productive learning community where students are challenged by high expectations and encouraged to achieve their personal best in all endeavours. Our College values of Persistence, Excellence, Community & Respect guide our decision making and actions. Patterson River has close connections with the community and sees itself as an important hub of the local community.
Set next to the Seaford Wetlands and within walking distance of the beach, our school enjoys beautiful surrounds. Our grounds are spacious and contain several landscaped courtyards which provide attractive, shaded seating areas for our students. Student learning takes place in a safe and stimulating environment with a range of modern facilities which include a three-court basketball stadium, Performing Arts Centre, Senior School Centre, Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 learning centres along with a new STEM centre, food rooms and community room. Staff are provided with free out of hours access to our new weights and circuit gym.
The school offers a wide range of programs to support student learning, including:
Diverse elective and VCE subject offerings
State-of-the-art STEM Centre
EXCEL Academic Program
EXCEL Sport Program
The current Student Family Occupation & Education (SFOE) Index is 0.38. The College enjoys a positive school climate and student connectedness, with staff, student and parent opinion surveys all reporting results which place the College in the top quartiles in state-wide comparisons.
Tours
Candidates wishing to book a tour can contact our Recruitment Officer Trish Ord via (03) 8770-6700 or [email protected]
School Documentation
Copies of our Strategic Plan, Annual Reports and Annual Implementation Plan can be found via our website. School level documents, including outcome information can be requested by contacting our Recruitment Officer, Trish Ord via (03) 8770-6700 or [email protected]
Further information
Candidates wishing to inquire about the role can contact our College Principal, Daniel Dew on 0431 345 092 or [email protected]
Further information about our College can also be found by visiting our website www.prsc.vic.edu.au or newsletters via: https://inewsletter.co/VYpKOv/archive