Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Hume - Wodonga
Reference: 1486434
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:
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
Note: A qualification in student wellbeing or mental health is desirable but not required
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.
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus School is an annex of Wodonga Middle Years College, and is physically located in the grounds of the Felltimber Campus, Hedgerow Court, Wodonga.
The School in the Community
Our school is a selective-entry government school, catering for students from Year 3 through to Year 9. We share a unique and interdependent partnership with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, based in Albury, NSW.
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus is Australia¿s premier youth circus, internationally recognised as both a national centre of training excellence and an award-winning performing arts company. With state-of-the-art facilities, a dedicated selective school, and a full-time training program, the Circus supports young people aged 8 to 18 in developing their skills and talents.
Established in 1979, the Circus has been inspiring generations of performers. In 1987, our school became its educational arm, ensuring that students can pursue both academic excellence and world-class circus training.
Curriculum
The school provides a challenging and comprehensive curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum with flexibility to meet the needs of individual students and the demands of circus training and performance. The special focus is fostering creativity and individuality through Circus and the Arts. The primary students undertake a core program incorporating a literacy and numeracy block plus, integrated studies. The secondary students study a rigorous program of English, Maths, Humanities, Science, and Technology. All students study Visual Art and Japanese, delivered by specialist teachers. The Health and Physical Education component is covered by the students¿ participation in in-school training at the circus at least one afternoon per week.
The school has three classes, and the makeup depends on the intake of students. The school structure is a combined class of years 3, 4, & 5, a 6/7 class, and an 8/9 class.
Facilities
The Flying Fruit Fly Circus School enjoys a purpose-built five-classroom facility completed in 2006. This is located at Wodonga Middle Years College ¿ Felltimber Campus. We have access to the Felltimber facilities when needed. Teachers are employed to undertake class and school-wide duties. There are numerous times when the students at the school tour nationally and internationally with the Circus.
Demographics
The School has an enrolment of up to 60 students. Membership of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus requires commitment from not only the students but also their families. Students come from the Albury/Wodonga area but also from all parts of Australia.