Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 5
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: 1552969
Princes Hill SC provides a supportive learning environment and a culture of high expectation that foster the school values of Achievement, Creativity, Inclusion, Resilience and Respect
The school has approximately 885 students. Demand for places is high and there are limits on the capacity of the school to offer places to students beyond the neighbourhood area. The school attracts a high proportion of families with a professional background who regularly contribute to decision-making processes, and support learning programs. The school has excellent facilities in all curriculum areas and is privileged to have access to outstanding playing fields and grounds with Princes Park in close proximity. This beautiful green open space is actively used by classes, and daily student access is supervised at recess and lunchtime.
The school is an inclusive and vibrant environment where students of all backgrounds feel welcome and safe. Widely acknowledged as a high performing school, Princes Hill SC is recognised for its impressive student academic performance, excellence across the curriculum and enduring social, emotional and personal outcomes for students. Appreciation of differences between people and awareness of individual needs, interests and abilities is central to the College ethos. Mutual respect amongst students and between students and staff is characteristic of relationships.
Evidence based practice and attention to research is important in our organisation's thinking and learning. Realising that students need a range of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and attitudes to live and learn sustainably and cooperatively in today's world, we maintain mixed ability classes up to Year 10 with a focus on differentiation of learning and challenge. Students are engaged students in the social issues of the day whilst critical and creative thinking, ethical behaviour and intercultural understanding are valued and encouraged. Knowing that wellbeing is fundamental to living well and to learning effectively, the school endorses approaches consistent with positive psychology and restorative practices.
The curriculum makes extensive use of our inner-city location for students' studies and excursions. Partnerships are sustained with nearby institutions including the City Edge Network of Schools that enrich the learning environment and culture. Consistent with the school's philosophy of providing students with a broad education, the College offers an extensive Camps and Outdoor Education Program utilising the recently upgraded school camp at Mirimbah at the base of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling, and other venues. Further learning extension options have included study tours to, Italy, France, China, Indonesia (Science) and Vietnam. In Year 9, all students are involved in our Wilderness Week program where all students have an extended wilderness experience.
KSC:
The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System highlighted that primary schools provide opportunities to identify children with mental health and wellbeing challenges, who can then be referred to treatment, care and support.
The Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative is being expanded to every government and low-fee non-government primary school in Victoria. Scaling up across the state from 2023, by 2026 every primary school will be able to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to wellbeing.
The Department of Education has been piloting the Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative in Victorian schools since 2020 in partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation of this pilot initiative has shown that 95 per cent of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders consider the Mental Health in Primary Schools model has improved their school's capacity to support students' mental health and wellbeing needs.
Participating schools receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, a qualified teacher, to work across the school to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community.
The role of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader is to:
The role provides a proactive focus for the promotion and prevention of mental health and wellbeing through assessment and implementation of context-relevant programs, approaches and initiatives based on a broad and extensive knowledge of the needs of the school.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader role is not a clinical role and is not designed for direct intervention. The role is seen as a key conduit in creating referral pathways once a teacher or other staff member identifies a concern in the classroom.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders are provided training in mental health literacy, supporting emerging needs, and building school capacity and receive ongoing support and professional development through structured and regular Learning Communities Training is developed and facilitated by the Faculty of Education at University of Melbourne, supported by Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
Operating in collaboration with their school, leadership and wellbeing team where relevant, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader will:
Required
Desirable
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