Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated experience building positive relationships with students, parents, carers, and staff to strengthen engagement and create a sense of belonging within a diverse school community.
- Demonstrated ability to monitor attendance and wellbeing data and implement targeted strategies or interventions to improve student engagement and participation in learning.
- Knowledge of wellbeing and behaviour support frameworks, including trauma-informed, restorative and strength-based approaches to student development.
- Capacity to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including teachers, school leaders, allied health professionals and external service providers, to coordinate holistic support for students and families.
- Strong communication, organisation and record-keeping skills, with the ability to manage confidential information and contribute effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary wellbeing team.
Role
The Wellbeing and Engagement Practitioner plays a pivotal role in strengthening student connection, attendance and wellbeing across the school. This role supports students, families, and staff through proactive engagement, timely communication, and data-informed practice. By building strong relationships and addressing barriers to participation, the practitioner helps every student feel safe, included and ready to learn.
Responsibilities
Family and Community Engagement
- Build and maintain strong, respectful relationships with students, parents, carers and families to promote positive home¿school partnerships.
- Communicate regularly with families to share updates on student needs, attendance, wellbeing and progress.
- Identify and respond sensitively to complex barriers impacting engagement, such as family violence, mental health challenges, transport difficulties, and social isolation.
- Liaise with external agencies and community partners to coordinate support and advocate for students and families.
Attendance Monitoring and Support
- Monitor attendance data, identify patterns of concern, and follow established school and DET processes to improve attendance.
- Work collaboratively with teaching staff, the Assistant Principal and external agencies to plan and implement targeted attendance interventions.
- Oversee and support the school¿s daily attendance processes in line with Department of Education expectations.
- Ensure all attendance procedures are followed, including marking late arrivals and following up with families by phone where no reason for absence is received.
- Maintain accurate attendance data and communicate emerging trends or concerns to leadership and teaching teams.
- Meet weekly with the Assistant Principal to identify at-risk students, plan interventions, and coordinate follow-up actions.
- Manage termly attendance letters, case meetings and Student Support Group (SSG) processes for students with ongoing or complex concerns
Student Wellbeing Support
- Provide direct support to students through check-ins, small group sessions, and social¿emotional skill development.
- Help students build resilience, manage stress, and develop positive relationships with peers and staff.
- Support implementation of behaviour and safety plans, and assist staff to apply consistent, trauma-informed strategies.
Collaboration with External Services
- Liaise with allied health professionals, community organisations and external service providers to coordinate support for students and families.
- Facilitate the implementation of external recommendations within the school context.
Team Contribution and Leadership
- Represent Education Support (ES) staff on the Wellbeing Team, contributing insights from daily student interactions. Work collaboratively with teaching, leadership, and wellbeing staff to plan proactive and preventative engagement strategies.
- Contribute to whole-school wellbeing and engagement initiatives such as Respectful Relationships, inclusive practices, cultural celebrations and extracurricular programs.
- Represent Education Support (ES) staff on the Wellbeing Team and contribute to strategic discussions about engagement and attendance improvement.
- Model and promote values of respect, equity, and empathy in all interactions with students and the wider community.
Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate records of student engagement and communication with families or agencies, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with school policies.
- Maintain accurate and confidential documentation related to attendance, engagement, and wellbeing interventions.
- Use data to identify trends, measure impact and inform planning at the classroom, cohort and whole-school level.
Professional Skills and Attributes
- Empathetic, patient, and relationship-focused approach to supporting young people and families.
- High-level communication and interpersonal skills, including active listening and de-escalation.
- Strong organisational and data-tracking ability, with attention to confidentiality and detail.
- Understanding of trauma-informed and restorative practices.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Qualifications in community-based work preferred.
Who May Apply
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
Diversity and Inclusion
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.
Child Safe Standards
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
DE Values
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
- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
- Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
- A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
- Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx
Location Profile
Yuille Park Community College is a multi-campus school providing an engaging curriculum with evidence-based approaches to learning.
Our school values are Belonging, Effort, Empathy and Respect.
Students work in learning communities in multiage groups building relationships and participating in a range of programs designed to provide collaborative learning opportunities.
Yuille Park Community College provides a rich and nurturing learning environment that engages students to develop Lifelong Learning skills in an atmosphere of cooperation, challenge and respect.
Our school reflects and enhances our community¿s commitment to the development of lifelong learning skills for young people in our community.
Our Yuille Campus also provides flexible learning options for Ballarat youth.
The `Young Parents Program¿ is a program that offers young parents the opportunity to continue their education alongside their children. Students at this campus are enrolled as senior secondary students and have the support of teaching staff and community support services.
YPCC ¿Yuille Campus¿ is the second Yuille Park Community College off site campus and provides flexible learning options for young people to re-engage and remain actively involved in their learning and to reach their potential.
The Yuille Park Children¿s Centre operates three and four year old kindergarten sessions in a purpose built facility on our main campus and is managed by the College.