Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Learning Specialist - Range 3
Occupation: Learning specialist
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 1493591
For 2026, we have entered into a partnership agreement with Nathaniel Swain!
Our school is renowned for its outstanding achievements and high expectations, and we maintain our focus on delivering the highest standards in teaching and learning. Our approaches are continually evolving, guided by the latest evidence-based research, including insights from cognitive science, which helps us understand how students learn best. We refine our teaching practices to ensure our students are well-prepared for the future by integrating proven strategies from trusted research sources such the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) - a national evidence body jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments.
Our approach to teaching involves explicit instruction, which is fundamental to the development of strong literacy and numeracy skills. Research from cognitive science underscores the importance of structured, focused teaching to help students retain and apply knowledge effectively. From Prep to Year 6, we place a strong emphasis on academic rigour, providing each student with a solid foundation that prepares them for success in secondary school and life beyond. We continuously adapt our methods to integrate new research and best practices, ensuring that our teaching strategies remain at the forefront of educational innovation.
While we are deeply committed to academic excellence, we also recognise the importance of social and emotional development. We embrace evidence-based behaviour support strategies, which create a safe, purposeful, and conducive learning environment. These strategies not only support positive behaviour but also promote emotional wellbeing, ensuring that our students are equipped with the resilience and skills they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Our dedicated teaching staff work collaboratively to provide a nurturing, structured and focused learning environment, which is essential to unlocking the full potential of every student. We aim to provide all students with equitable access to a well-sequenced and challenging knowledge-rich curriculum, by focusing on quality whole-class instruction, paired with adjustments and interventions for students who need them, and programs to challenge high-ability students.
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 model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. 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 communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based 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.
In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are 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.
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
Successful applicants are employed on an ongoing basis.
The Learning Specialist position is tenured for two years. At the completion of the period of tenure, the principal will determine whether a learning specialist tenure is to be renewed or the position abolished or advertised in accordance with Departmental policy. Where tenure is not renewed, the employee will continue to be an ongoing employee at the school.
The Learning Specialist is typically a classroom teacher, with opportunities for release as required to support the role. Learning Specialists at Seabrook are typically also team/PLC leaders for a year-level teaching team of approximately 4-6 teachers. Depending on funding and available staff, we aim to release most Learning Specialists for at least one day per week. We have begun using StepLab to support a revised Coaching Model - responsive instructional coaching (refer to the work of Josh Goodrich and Ollie Lovell). We're looking to invest in broadening our instructional coaching reach under this new model. Learning Specialists are part of our school improvement team, and are assigned a portfolio in response to school needs.
For 2026, we have entered into a partnership agreement with Nathaniel Swain!
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.