Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 2
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1494044
[Attendance requirement for this position]
An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).
A role at this range may include:
An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
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.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
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
Work hours for this role are 11am to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Dandenong Primary School acknowledges that our school is located on the Country of the Bunurong people of the South-Eastern Kulin Nation. We honour their sovereignty and connection to Country as the traditional custodians of the land on which we learn and teach.
The school first opened its doors on Monday, 4 May 1874, and in 2024 celebrated 150 years of excellence in learning and teaching.
Our vision is to empower every child to reach their highest possible academic, social, and personal achievement potential, within a community-minded school recognised for excellence.
Dandenong Primary School serves one of Australia's most culturally diverse communities. Since the first half of 2022, following the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the resulting exodus of people from the region and surrounds, the school has observed a significant increase in students who would typically have first attended the Noble Park English Language School (NPELS) arriving directly at Dandenong Primary School. This increase continued through 2024, leading to a broader range of student abilities in each classroom, particularly in terms of English language proficiency and students with disabilities and/or additional needs. By the end of the 2024 school year, more than 25% of the student population had enrolled as new arrivals over the preceding 30-month period.
According to the Distribution of Socio-Educational Advantage (SEA), 59% of Dandenong Primary School students are in the bottom quarter, while only 4% are in the top quarter. In 2024, the school's Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE) index was 0.6108, indicating a high level of disadvantage. Despite this, the school benefits from a community of families who hold high expectations for their children's success and show strong support for the school.
In 2024, the school was home to approximately 440 students from Foundation (Prep) to Year 6, representing a significant increase on previous years. This growth was primarily due to an influx of non-English speaking new arrivals. The school consisted of four Foundation classes, three Year 1 classes, three Year 2 classes, five Year 3/4 composite classes, and four Year 5/6 composite classes. Specialist classes in health and physical education, science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), visual arts, performing arts, and social and emotional learning were offered. The school also maintained a specialised English as an Additional Language (EAL) support program for Year 3 to Year 6 students and provided extra language and literacy as well as numeracy support across the school through the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) team.
In addition to our learning and teaching staff, the school maintains a team of wellbeing staff to support the health and wellbeing of students and families. In 2024, this included a Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registered mental health and wellbeing leader (MHWL), a part-time arts therapist, and a casually employed social worker.
The school's staff and volunteers are almost as diverse as the student population, speaking a range of languages, including Dari, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic. Spanish, French, Serbian, Albanian, Greek, Cantonese, Mandarin, Turkish, Russian and English. The school was led by a principal, two assistant principals, three Leading Teachers/Learning Specialists, and a PLC team leader for each year level based learning and teaching team (Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3/4, Year 5/6), along with curriculum specialists and Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) staff. Nearly all classrooms are supported by Education Support teacher aide staff.
The school continued to run its award-winning Victorian Early Years Award Community Hub program, which brings local information and services related to education, health, community, and settlement into a familiar and welcoming space for parents and carers. The Community Hub aims to help families build friendships, support networks, and a sense of belonging in both the Dandenong Primary School and wider community. The program also includes an award-winning weekly multicultural playgroup, providing a vibrant and inclusive space for families to connect and engage.
Dandenong Primary School also continued its collaboration with the Greater Dandenong Early Learning Alliance (ELA), a project comprising four local schools and five kindergartens. A cornerstone of this partnership is the continuity of learning in language and literacy development between kindergarten and school. The ELA strengthened collaborative partnerships, relationships, and engagement between educators, families, and communities. Notably, this collective of schools and kindergartens was honoured with the Victorian Early Years Award in 2023.
In 2024, Principal Daniel Riley took on the role of Network Chair for the Dandenong Principal Network. That same year, he was honoured as a finalist in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards in the category of Outstanding Primary Principal.
The school's infrastructure, particularly the historic 1881 administration building, which was extended in the early 1900s to include four additional classrooms and a courtyard, has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2024, two classrooms, the assistant principal's office, and the school's conference room were closed for an extended period to undergo mould remediation works following persistent water ingress. This disruption displaced students and staff, diverting valuable time and resources away from the core focus on learning and wellbeing. The school has been collaborating with the Victorian School Building Authority and regional support staff to address these ongoing issues.
Notably, 2025 will mark the highest number of new teachers joining the school in its recent history. This cohort includes a new graduate, a pre-service teacher with VIT Permission to Teach (PTT), and several educators in the early stages of their careers.
In 2025, the school will begin the implementation of the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) initiative, an evidence-based approach to enhancing behavioural, wellbeing, and academic outcomes for children and young people.
The school makes use of online platforms and social media to offer a window into the life and learning at Dandenong Primary School. Links to our social media sites are available on our school website at www.dandenongps.vic.edu.au.