Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3
Occupation: Education and training
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1521471
Established in 1919 Dandenong High School is one of the oldest, largest and most culturally diverse secondary schools in the state. It is situated in the South East Region in Dandenong, a low socio economic community (SFO density 0.72) with a high refugee population. The school has over 1500 students and is highly multicultural with 78 nationalities and 80 different language groups represented. In 2008 Dandenong High School merged with two other schools in the local community and is currently undergoing a major school redevelopment and a $45 million dollar funding program.
In order to ensure that students develop a ¿sense of belonging¿ and connectedness to the school, the school has a unique structure housing its students in 7 House building on one site. Each House holds 250 students from Years 7 ¿ 12, 25 teaching staff, a House Leadership team of 3 and an administration officer. Students in Years 7 ¿ 10 learn primarily in the House in architecturally designed learning spaces.
The school has an innovative approach to curriculum with a collaborative learning model in Years 7 ¿ 9. Students learn in groups of 50 with teams of 3 teachers and electronic curriculum frameworks are available for each subject and Year level. There is a focus on discovery based learning, problem solving and inquiry and students are encouraged to be independent learners who are self-motivated and curious about the world around them.
Dandenong High school has an Accelerated Learning Program in years 7 ¿ 10 and offers a wide range of electives and extensive curriculum opportunities in the senior years. Students can select numerous Senior Certificate subjects and a number of VET options. The Trade Training Centre on the Chisholm TAFE site provides the opportunity for Year 9 - 10 students to select industry tasters in state of the art facilities.
Student leadership is a high priority. The school encourages an active student voice with leadership opportunities at each year level and a comprehensive leadership program offered in Years 10 ¿ 12. Students can also participate in a range of sporting and performing arts opportunities through the House Shield competition including; chorales, swimming and athletics. Each year there is a Performing Arts Gala, an annual production, a lunchtime activities program implemented by student leaders.
KSC1 Highly developed organisational, communication (verbal, written and IT skills) and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, innovative and collaborative Careers team environment
KSC2 Demonstrated capacity to ability to build productive relationships with key stakeholders within the school, across the education sector and wider community to provide organisational benefit.
KSC3 Capacity to plan and provide high quality pathways and careers advice to students and families at a cohort, class and individual level
KSC4 A commitment to professional learning and reflection to enable personal growth of skills, expertise and capacity
KSC5 Demonstrated capacity to show initiative, contribute to a positive school culture and enact organisational values.
The primary objective of the Careers Counsellor at Dandenong High School is to support the implementation and organisation of Careers Education, VET and Work Placement programs.
In conjunction, this role will also have an involvement in providing targeted support for programs, which align with the schools strategic plan by achieving improvement in student engagement and their connection to school. The Careers Counsellor at Dandenong High School works within a team of practitioners and reports to the Careers and Partnerships Leader.
· The Careers Counsellor will participate as a member of the team, supporting staff across the school to implement Careers Education programs.
· Provide expertise and support to students and staff regarding careers programs, VTAC, SEAS, Scholarships and Access and Pathways programs for tertiary study.
· Build and maintain strong working relationships both within the team/school and with external stakeholders, including tertiary education providers, support agencies, SELLEN, employers, RTO¿s and Job Network providers.
· Demonstrate understanding as to the issues and barriers faced by students from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and the ability to link them to programs and services to support their specific careers and transition needs.
· Provide careers expertise and support to counsel students and their parents, regarding pathways and transition.
· Manage and maintain a library of material suitable for use by students in class situations and within the careers department.
· Organise and implement an effective Careers Expo annually
· Work collaboratively within the careers team to ensure programs outside core responsibilities are supported, when needed.
· Ensure relevant knowledge is kept updated through attendance at appropriate Professional Development activities.
· Other duties as directed by the Principal or delegate
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of 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
Preferably all applicants should submit a cover letter CV and Key Selection Criteria response as one attached document on Recruitment On-Line
This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.