Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher
Occupation: Classroom teacher
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1552397
Mentone Primary School is situated in the beachside suburb of Mentone, within the City of Kingston, on the traditional lands of the Bunurong People. Established in 1889, the school has proudly served its community for over 135 years, building a rich tradition of educational excellence, shared values and community connection.
Mentone Primary School aspires to foster a vibrant community where every student thrives academically, socially and emotionally. By nurturing meaningful connections that embrace the rich diversity of our students' cultural backgrounds, individual needs and unique abilities, we aim to empower them with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to shape the world around them.
Our five school values, Respect, Honesty, Team Player, Friendliness and Caring underpin our relationships, learning experiences and commitment to a positive, inclusive school culture.
Mentone Primary School provides engaging, high-quality learning programs designed to inspire, challenge and support every student to achieve their full potential. Our school-wide instructional model aligns with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0), with a strong emphasis on explicit teaching and evidence-informed instructional practices.
Through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), teachers collaboratively plan, implement and evaluate teaching programs, using student learning data to inform instruction, monitor progress and promote continuous improvement.
Literacy and Numeracy are key priorities, supported by differentiated instruction and targeted interventions. Students also engage in transdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning that fosters curiosity, critical thinking and meaningful connections across the curriculum.
Students are provided with opportunities to extend their learning, pursue their interests and demonstrate their capabilities through a range of enrichment and extension experiences. These include the Challenge and Enrichment Series, the Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP), and participation in national and international competitions. These opportunities encourage students to embrace challenges, develop their talents and strive for excellence.
Specialist programs include Auslan, Library, Physical Education, STEM and Visual Arts. Sustainability, student leadership and the purposeful integration of digital technologies further enrich learning experiences, fostering creativity, collaboration and responsible citizenship.
Mentone Primary School is committed to an inclusive learning environment where every student feels safe, valued and supported. Our approach reflects the Victorian Department of Education's Disability Inclusion reforms, with Tier 2 funding strengthening inclusive practices and targeted support, while Tier 3 funding enables individualised assistance for eligible students through collaborative planning and reasonable adjustments.
Student mental health and wellbeing are fundamental to learning and engagement. Aligned with the Department's Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0), our comprehensive, whole-school approach emphasises positive relationships, social and emotional learning, resilience, student voice, prevention, early intervention and targeted support.
Our outdoor education program, spanning Years 3 to 6, includes camps and opportunities for interschool sporting participation, fostering independence, resilience and teamwork. Student leadership opportunities, including PLAY Leaders, Student Leaders and four School Captains, encourage responsibility, confidence and active participation in school life.
Strong partnerships with families and community organisations are central to our school culture. Team Kids provides Before and After School Care and Holiday Programs, while our Foodbank-supported Breakfast Club promotes student wellbeing, connection and readiness to learn.
Mentone Primary School is committed to upholding the Victorian Child Safe Standards and maintaining a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where every child's voice is respected.
Our dedicated staff, engaged families and strong community spirit create a welcoming environment where students are known, valued and encouraged to achieve their personal best.
SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.
SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.
As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.
Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.
A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.
Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.
Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.
At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.
Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.
Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.
The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:
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
The Panel requests that each applicant considers including the names of three professional referees who are able to make relevant comments regarding the application and the Key Selection Criteria.
Please provide email addresses for each referee as well as accurate telephone numbers to enable the Panel to make contact with the referees.
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.