Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Leading Teacher - Range 3
Occupation: Leading teacher
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1499864
SC1 ¿ Educational Leadership
Demonstrated ability to lead the implementation of a whole-school wellbeing and engagement framework, with a particular focus on School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS). Proven capacity to lead a school community towards achieving high-level SWPBS accreditation through effective leadership, collaboration, and strategic planning.
SC2 ¿ Expertise in Teaching and Learning
Highly developed knowledge of evidence-based approaches to student behaviour, wellbeing, and engagement, with demonstrated success in improving student outcomes through consistent whole-school practices.
SC3 ¿ Data Literacy and Impact
Ability to collect, analyse, and interpret student behaviour and wellbeing data to inform decision-making, evaluate impact, and drive continuous improvement in SWPBS implementation and outcomes.
SC4 ¿ Building Capacity in Others
Demonstrated expertise in developing, facilitating, and evaluating professional learning that improves teacher practice. Capacity to coach, mentor, and provide feedback to colleagues to embed SWPBS principles in daily teaching and classroom management.
SC5 ¿ Engagement and Communication
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with students, staff, families, and community partners to create a positive, inclusive, and safe learning environment.
SC6 ¿ Contribution to School Leadership
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the broader leadership of the school through strategic planning, staff development, and modelling the school¿s values and vision.
The Leading Teacher (SWPBS) will play a pivotal role in the development, implementation and evaluation of the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework. This role will drive a consistent, evidence-informed approach to wellbeing, behaviour, and engagement across the school, ensuring all students can learn and thrive in a positive and inclusive environment.
A key focus of the position is to lead the school¿s SWPBS journey towards achieving Gold accreditation by 2028 and Platinum accreditation by 2030. The successful candidate will lead a strong culture of data-informed practice, capacity building, and continuous improvement aligned with the school¿s Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan (AIP).
The Leading Teacher will work closely with the Principal Class, Wellbeing Team, and Professional Learning Communities to embed SWPBS principles in teaching and learning, leadership, and school culture.
The Leading Teacher (SWPBS) 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.
Springvale Park Special Developmental School is located in the vibrant community of Springvale in South-East Melbourne. The school is easily accessible by car and public transport, with buses and trains stopping at Springvale Station, just a one-minute walk from the school.
Springvale Park SDS is a dynamic and innovative centre for learning for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Our students may also present with comorbid conditions. We provide a targeted and enriching learning environment based on their individual needs. We foster a strong atmosphere of curiosity, independence, and belonging through high-quality teaching and learning programs that recognise the unique strengths and abilities of every student.
We currently have an enrolment of 205 school-aged students and 32 children in our Early Education Program, with numbers expected to continue growing over the coming years. Students are grouped into Foundation, Junior, Middle, Inter, and Senior sections, encompassing 31 classrooms, with an additional three classrooms dedicated to our Early Education Program.
As our enrolment increases, so too does our commitment to upgrading and expanding our facilities. Recently, we completed the construction of a new Senior School building featuring eight modern classrooms and a Life Skills Lounge. This purpose-built space supports innovative programs designed to enhance student independence and prepare them for post-school life. Looking ahead, a new swimming pool will be built on-site in 2026, providing students with improved opportunities to develop water safety skills and engage in activities that promote sensory regulation.
Teaching and learning at Springvale Park SDS is highly individualised and responsive, ensuring every student can access the curriculum and achieve personal growth through engaging, differentiated, and evidence-based educational programs.
Teaching and learning at Springvale Park SDS:
Teaching and learning at Springvale Park SDS, is highly individualised and focuses on improving both the short-term and longer term outcomes of our students. Three distinct curricula support our students¿ journeys across their schooling career. As an early education provider, students' learning is based on the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), with a heavy focus on school-readiness, through play-based learning, communication development, and social and emotional skills.
Once students move into school age, they access the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. School age students have a focus on communication skills, through the use of an augmentative and alternative communication system, continue to develop literacy skills through Comprehensive Literacy Instruction, and numeracy is taught through hands-on and immersive experiences. Along with a strong academic focus, students develop social, emotional and independence skills.
In students¿ Senior years, learning moves onto the ASDAN curriculum. Students at this level work through a series of modules designed to support the critical skills needed to post-school, including travel training, leisure activities, numeracy, literacy, communication, cooking, sports and others. All student learning is further supported through Individual Education Plans (IEP).
Additional enrichment programs are run to enhance students¿ learning experiences. These include:
Working at Springvale Park SDS:
Class sizes range from five to ten students, with each class supported by a teacher and an Education Support Officer (ESO). Teachers are provided with a full day of planning each week to collaborate with their section teams on developing high-quality unit planners and weekly programs.
Staff are supported by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, who work alongside educators to meet each student¿s individual needs.
Learning Specialists, Leading Teachers, and the Assistant Principal ¿ Curriculum also provide guidance and coaching for teachers and ESOs. Our Learning Specialist for Behaviour Intervention works to maximise in-class and whole school supports for teachers and ESOs to make sure our students have the best educational experience they can while at our school.
Ongoing professional learning is offered throughout the year to ensure all staff remain up to date with best practices and Department of Education initiatives, such as the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0, Professional Learning Communities, etc.
At Springvale Park SDS, we place a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of our staff, students, and families, taking a holistic, school-wide approach to care and support. Our dedicated Wellbeing Team includes a Leading Teacher for Wellbeing, a Mental Health Practitioner, a Mental Health in Primary Schools teacher, an NDIS Navigator, and a school nurse. In addition to these internal supports, we also engage external providers to offer optional counselling sessions for all staff each term that complement regular celebrations and activities that connect staff, ensuring that wellbeing remains at the heart of our school community.