Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Learning Specialist - Range 3
Occupation: Learning specialist
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 1509448
Western Autistic School's vision is to provide a dedicated school for students with autism.
At Western Autistic School, we envision a nurturing environment for autistic students in grades Prep to Year 3. Through personalized support and collaborative teaching, we empower each child to thrive socially and academically. Our community celebrates diversity and fosters a commitment to building a strong educational foundation for our students that encourages lifelong learning and achievement.
Our school demonstrates commitment to the following values:
Diversity
Respect
Learning as an ongoing process
Sharing and growth of knowledge
Collaboration
School Profile
The Western Autistic School is a large, vibrant and unique school in the western suburbs of Melbourne. We offer an early years program for 300+ young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Prep to Grades 3.
Our school caters to autistic students, and synthesises an evidence base drawn from student-centred, strengths-based approaches and contemporary research from the fields of autism and inclusive education to develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for each student.
Key features of our program include:
The individual student is the focus of our teaching
Each student is provided with an Individual Learning Plan, in collaboration between the student, their family and the teaching team
An emphasis on building foundational skills in social communication and functional areas, alongside academic skills particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy
Small classes of approximately eight students with a teaching team of consisting of teachers, education support staff and allied health professionals
Individualised transition program for children to move on to their local neighbourhood school
Ongoing outreach supports.
As part of our school's mission, WAS is actively involved in research and training. It has a registered training provider The Autism Teaching Institute (ATI) which provides post graduate qualifications to educators working with autistic students.
Further information about WAS and its branches is available at:
www.westernautisticschool.vic.edu.au
www.autismteachinginstitute.org.au
SC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.
SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth
SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to monitor and assess student learning at a class, cohort or whole-school level and use this data to lead improvement initiatives. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to lead collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community focused on student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values and support colleagues to adopt these behaviours and attitudes. Demonstrated ability to reflect upon their own, others and whole-school practice and contribute to the provision of whole-school professional learning
Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.
The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.
The Inclusive Education Learning Specialist will continue to work in a WAS classroom, with additional responsibilities to support teachers at WAS and external schools to provide an inclusive education for students with diverse learning needs, including autism.
This will include:
This Learning Specialist position is responsible for extending the support offered to Western Autistic School students, in the school¿s mission of addressing the impairments specific to ASD and activating individual strengths to optimise education opportunities for our students when they move into more mixed settings
*A professional learning and planning day will be facilitated in late January, prior to 27th of January. All members of the leadership team are expected to attend this event.
*This position has a requirement of 3 days per week classroom teaching.
In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialist Inclusive Education may include but are not limited to:
Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice
Providing consultation to the teachers at mainstream settings regarding the evaluation, planning, implementation and assessment of individual learning programs for students who have transitioned from Western Autistic School.
Establishing and maintaining good relationships with mainstream school settings in the Western Melbourne region, including with principals, other leaders, wellbeing staff and student support services.
Engaging in professional learning opportunities, fostered through a close relationship with the Autism Teaching Institute.
Leading and managing the provision of professional development and developing individual and team development plans for teaching staff within the priorities of the school
Teaching demonstration lessons.
Other leadership roles as required.
*The Learning Specialist- Inclusive Education reports to the Assistant Principal - Inclusive Education or Principal of Western Autistic School.
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
A written response to each of the Selection Criteria is mandatory.
Up to three referees who are able to comment on your application in relation to the Selection Criteria.
Referees other than those nominated may be contacted by the Panel.
This position is based at Western Autistic School - 1 Burnley Street, Laverton
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.