Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1498604
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:
Applicants should be currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach.
A qualification in student wellbeing or mental health is desirable but not required.
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
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.
At Newlands Primary School, our motto Through relationships we build success¿ underpins everything we do. We provide a caring and challenging learning environment that supports every student to thrive. Our core values `Care, Curiosity, Creativity and Responsibility¿ are embedded in our whole-school learning culture and guide our approach to teaching and community engagement.
Located in the residential area of Preston West, within the City of Darebin and directly opposite the Coburg Hill housing development, Newlands Primary draws students from a wide catchment across the Preston and Moreland areas. The school's Student Family Occupation (SFO) index for 2025 is classified as High, reflecting the general educational and occupational background of our parent community.
Newlands sits on a spacious site featuring two open grassed areas and landscaped gardens, offering students a range of passive recreation spaces for reading, games, and social play.
Following a major redevelopment, our facilities now include:
In 2020, Newlands was officially recognised by the Department of Education and Training as a Spanish Bilingual School. This bilingual model is reflected in our 2026 grade structure:
Our Specialist Programs include:
Our administration team includes a full-time Business Manager, Senior Office Manager, and Office Administrator. We are proud of our dedicated and diverse teaching staff who work collaboratively in professional teams to plan, share, and deliver high-quality learning experiences. Despite limited access to some resources, our staff remain committed to providing the best possible programs for all students.
Newlands benefits greatly from strong community involvement. Parents and carers actively participate in classroom programs, sharing their skills in music, art, gardening, and cooking. Families are encouraged to contribute through School Council, the Parents and Friends Association (PFA), or one of our many sub-committees.
With projected enrolments of 470 students in 2026, Newlands Primary School has experienced steady growth over the past five years. We believe this reflects both the regeneration of our local area and the high regard the community holds for its local neighbourhood school.