Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher - Range 2
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 1515362
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.
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 probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department¿s Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages.default.aspx
Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.
Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed. Visit http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/vacancies/tips-for-applying for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.
Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
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.
Outstanding opportunity to work in a P.Y.P. School in Tarneit/Werribee.
Davis Creek Primary School is a new co-educational Prep to Year 6 that opened in 2020. Over this time, we have grown rapidly due to our positive reputation within our local community of Tarneit. We have rapidly grown from 253 students to over 900 students in 2025. Tarneit is a thriving multi-cultural community positioned only 25km from the CBD of Melbourne.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, positive, and passionate Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to work as part of the school team and school community to contribute to our collaborative culture at our school.
We have an administration building including library, two learning community buildings and a Performing Arts and Physical Education (PAPE) building. These includes flexible collaborative learning spaces, explicit instruction glassed rooms, presentation spaces, quiet reading areas or small group nooks, specialist labs, games and construction settings and staff workspaces.
Davis Creek Primary School aims to build a school culture that demonstrates a strong belief in and a commitment to providing a rich and rigorous curriculum within a safe, secure and enriched learning environment for our children. We implement the Primary Years Programme as a rich, authentic, rigorous curriculum framework. Professional learning and training will be provided. We have a clear focus on catering for the diverse range of students at their point of need. Our core mission promotes a mindset of international mindedness, and provides a supportive, nurturing and challenging learning environment, with high expectations for student success. Our approach to wellbeing for all members of our community is aligned to our curriculum framework and we implement many practices from the Berry Street Education Model. Our school believes that relationships are the foundation of learning and life.
Another major feature of our school¿s curriculum is the development of a high-quality Music, STEM, Visual Arts, Mandarin and Sporting Program that fosters student¿s intellectual, social and physical development.
Balit Djerring-Stronger Together
We believe that together we will achieve more.
Vision
Davis Creek Primary School¿s vision is to nurture a creative and collaborative learning environment where teachers and students can;
achieve beyond their goals and provide excellence in teaching and learning in a safe and supportive education environment
flourish as caring individuals who display compassion and build positive relationships
embrace challenges and take principled action, both locally and globally developing international mindedness
be engaged, empowered and energised learners who demonstrate a high level of agency
develop positive and genuine partnerships with the community.
Mission
Davis Creek Primary School¿s mission is to develop and support a successful and inclusive environment where all students actively participate in and assume ownership of their learning. Together we create a rigorous instructional program, which promotes globally minded, creative, curious, confident, and reflective lifelong learners.
Values
Davis Creek Primary School¿s values are based on the acronym of Curious, Agency, Respect and Excellence C.A.R.E
Please visit our website to learn more about our school to ensure our school¿s philosophy is aligned to yours.