Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher - Range 2
Occupation: Classroom teacher
Location: Grampians - Golden Plains
Reference: 1505857
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
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
- All applicants must be experienced and highly capable of teaching students of all learning levels.
- Applications MUST address the specified selection criteria.
- Applicants must make every attempt to lodge applications through Recruitment Online.
- In the rare case that applicants are unable to access Recruitment Online, email applications will be accepted at [email protected]
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Should you have further queries to the position or would like to book in a tour, please contact the school on 5343 5358 / 0439 818 078
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.
Vision
`To develop academically and socially confident students in an engaging learning environment, where they are inspired to reach their full potential.¿
Values
Respect: Showing care and concern for self, others and property. (Be thoughtful)
Excellence: In the achievement of individual and team goals. (Do your best.)
Integrity: Of individuals in their words, actions and relationships. (Do the right thing.)
Responsibility: For our words and actions. (Be in charge of yourself)
Mission
`To provide support to motivate and stimulate our learners on their life-long learning journey.¿
Context
Waubra Primary School is a picturesque rural school that is located on the Sunraysia Highway, 32km. north of Ballarat in a rural environment. There is a wide diversity of parent occupations. The school has a committed, talented and professional staff with a positive range of skills and abilities. The school has always developed and maintained the well-resourced teaching areas which include the original school building which is comprised of the administration office, principal office, staff room, junior classroom and music room, the new building provided through the Building the Education Revolution program houses three classrooms and an open area, and a multi-purpose learning space for art and indoor physical education.
It has approximately 54 students. The school has been an important part of the community since its opening in 1869 and Waubra Primary School is proud of its history and tradition and looks forward to the future with confidence.
The school is held in high regard within and beyond the community.
The Waubra school community has the expectation that all children will reach their full academic and personal potential with the school providing appropriate curriculum programs and effective teaching practices.
Whilst the key focus of the school is on Literacy and Numeracy, classroom programs provide a broad curriculum across all key learning areas - the Arts, English, Health, Physical Education, Mathematics, AUSLAN, Digital Technology, Science, Humanities and Technology.
The classroom programs are supported by the Disability Inclusion Model, and specialist teachers of Japanese, Physical Education and MARC Van support.
As well as a comprehensive curriculum, students are offered extra curricula enrichment activities which include sport, performing arts, instrumental music tuition, special days, the annual concert, excursions, incursions and camps. Students enjoy opportunities for leadership and values-based education. A number of teams compete in school competitions, supported by teachers and parents.
The use of technology to enhance student learning is a feature of the school and high-quality facilities, programs, equipment and expertise are provided to support classroom programs. The school has a school funded 1-to-1 laptop program from Foundation ¿ grade 6. The opportunity for the ICT development of student¿s skills and class group work is integrated into key learning areas across the curriculum and is optimised by students accessing networked computers.
Parents and community members are very involved in all aspects of the school environment. We encourage parents and community members to take an active part in their child¿s learning through information evenings and the school¿s open-door policy.