Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher
Occupation: Classroom teacher
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1512315
The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System highlighted that primary schools provide opportunities to identify children with mental health and wellbeing challenges, who can then be referred to treatment, care and support.
The Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative is being expanded to every government and low-fee non-government primary school in Victoria. Scaling up across the state from 2023, by 2026 every primary school will be able to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to wellbeing.
The Department of Education has been piloting the Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative in Victorian schools since 2020 in partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation of this pilot initiative has shown that 95 per cent of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders consider the Mental Health in Primary Schools model has improved their school's capacity to support students' mental health and wellbeing needs.
Participating schools receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, a qualified teacher, to work across the school to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community.
The role of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader is to:
The role provides a proactive focus for the promotion and prevention of mental health and wellbeing through assessment and implementation of context-relevant programs, approaches and initiatives based on a broad and extensive knowledge of the needs of the school.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader role is not a clinical role and is not designed for direct intervention. The role is seen as a key conduit in creating referral pathways once a teacher or other staff member identifies a concern in the classroom.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders are provided training in mental health literacy, supporting emerging needs, and building school capacity and receive ongoing support and professional development through structured and regular Learning Communities Training is developed and facilitated by the Faculty of Education at University of Melbourne, supported by Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
Operating in collaboration with their school, leadership and wellbeing team where relevant, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader will:
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.
Lalor Gardens Primary School Profile 2025
About Us
Lalor Gardens Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school in northwest Lalor, on Wurundjeri land. Currently at 415 students and 50 staff, we expect continued growth as new housing estates develop.
Teaching & Learning
We are developing a strong multi-tiered system of support for learning and wellbeing. We teach through explicit direct instruction in core subject areas. We use a structured synthetic phonics approach in our early years¿ literacy instruction and evidence-informed approaches schoolwide. We are deeply committed to providing the best learning opportunities for all students. We support many students who speak English as an additional language. Our first-language-supported EAL program helps English learners thrive.
Our focus on continual improvement is driven through regular schoolwide Professional Learning, including participation in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Teaching teams work collaboratively to plan and rehearse lessons every week. We use centralised planning resources to ensure high level curriculum is delivered school wide.
Programs & Features:
Wellbeing
Our motto, "Learn, Grow, Achieve ¿ Together anything is possible," guides us in developing respectful, responsible, empathetic, and resilient students. As a Gold Standard School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support school, our values are; Learning, Respect, Responsibility, Empathy and Resilience.
We use the Berry Street Education Model to create a calm, supportive environment through strategies like Circle Time, Zones of Regulation, and brain breaks. We deliver an in-class Wellbeing program and a Specialist Wellbeing program where Respectful Relationships is taught. We offer breakfast club daily.
Staff wellbeing is also a priority, supported through PERMAH and professional development. As such, we have a very strong team culture.
Sustainability
Our solar-powered school reduces costs and ensures year-round air-conditioned classrooms. Other initiatives include: Vegetable gardens & mini orchard, Frog pond, rabbits & chickens, and an Indigenous Flora Garden.
Facilities
We are proud of our modern, spacious learning spaces, including:
Take a virtual tour on our website: LGPS Virtual Tour
Join Our Team!
If you¿re a passionate educator with strong teamwork skills and a commitment to inclusive, evidence-informed education, we¿d love to hear from you!
Contact Principal Frazer Thomas on (03) 9465 1351 or email [email protected] to arrange a tour or ask questions.