Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Learning Specialist - Range 3
Occupation: Learning specialist
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1507620
Southern Autistic School (SAS) is a specialist school dedicated to the education of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and with significant deficits in language. SAS provides evidence based educational programs to meet the learning needs of children with a diagnosis of ASD. A focus of the current Strategic Plan is making the school a centre of excellence and expertise in the delivery of education for students with autism.
The school is located in the South Eastern Region in East Bentleigh with approximately 280 students aged from 3 to 18 years. Classes have six to ten students with all children having an individual education plan. Individual Education Plans are based on the Victorian Curriculum with a focus on developing communication, social interaction, and independence skills.
The class teacher is supported by a teaching assistant. Speech pathologists support the development of individual communication programs and occupational therapists add to the comprehensive educational team. A clinical psychologist and an experienced social worker work with families and students to further enhance student wellbeing.
At SAS we implement the Victorian Curriculum and enhance our teaching and learning programs through the use of evidence-based approaches and strategies. This includes the implementation of the VTLM 2.0, use of Hanen: More Than Words, a structured synthetic phonics approach and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Our Secondary Programs provide great vocational education opportunities in addition to the recreation and community access. Our Early Education Program utilises Hanen Strategies and implements aspects and strategies from the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.
There are four sub schools on the same campus each led by a highly experienced school leader. Learning Specialists additionally support the development of teaching and learning programs. Our specialist programs vary across the sub schools however include ART, Media ARTS, Physical Education, Music , Science and Cooking. The Primary aged students also attend a Swimming Program with a magnesium pool on site.
Positive Classroom Management Strategies are key to supporting student engagement and data. The school is committed to the development of the whole child and works in partnership with parents. We have a supportive parent community who regularly communicate with staff.
Vision Statement:
The SAS vision for students is to develop lifelong learners who have a sense of belonging and are encouraged to implement their skills and knowledge to make choices and accept responsibility for their decisions. Our school values are: `I am Safe, I am a Learner and I Belong'.
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.
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
Where an ongoing teaching position in a special school or setting (or a visiting teacher position) is advertised:
Other than set out above, a teacher who does not have an approved special education qualification can only be offered:
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.