Overview
Work Type: Ongoing - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs
Reference: 1488238
Selection Criteria
- Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.
- Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
- Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
- Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
- Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
Role
The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.
Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:
- Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
- Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and
- Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.
Education support class level 1 range 4
The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources
Responsibilities
- Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
- Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
- Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
- Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
- Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
- Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
- Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.
Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Who May Apply
Required
- Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
- For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
- For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
- For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
- Demonstrated direct counselling experience
- A current Working With Children Check.
Desirable
- For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
- For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
- For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
- For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
- For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).
EEO AND OHS Commitment
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]
Child Safe Standards
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
DE Values
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
Conditions of Employment
- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
- Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
- 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
Location Profile
Brinbeal Secondary College
Our college is expanding, and we are excited to grow our team with a range of positions and opportunities available.
As a college that has recently opened, you will be part of the exciting journey of contributing to a new school culture and the creation of inclusive and engaging teaching in brand new state of the art facilities.
We are seeking dedicated educators who are committed to empowering colleagues and students, playing a pivotal role in our college community. We encourage applications from educators with all levels of experience, from graduates through to highly accomplished teachers.
As a new and growing school, the school has the capacity to negotiate part-time hours with any applicants who wish to be considered for part-time only.
About our School:
- Brinbeal Secondary College is one of the newest 7 - 12 Secondary College in Melbourne's west. The school opened its doors to its first cohort of Year 7 students in 2024 to a purpose built, state of the art educational facility.
- At present, the school has approx. 450 Year 7 & 8 students and will add an additional year 7 cohort each year until 2029 when it will become a 7 - 12 school.
- There continues to be great excitement in the community about our new school.
- In 2026, we will add Year 9 to our program and expect our enrolments to grow beyond 750+ in total.
- The school is situated in Melbourne's booming western growth corridor approximately 23 kilometres from Melbourne CBD and services the rapidly growing and aspirational communities of the highly sought after Grove and Grand Central Estates in Tarneit.
- Find out more via our website: Brinbeal Secondary College, Tarneit (brinbealsc.vic.edu.au)
Our Facilities:
Stage 1 state of the art educational facilities are now complete and includes:
- Administration and Resource Centre ¿ featuring modern design and multiple learning spaces for a variety of teaching styles.
- Exceptional two storey Science and Technology building ¿ with dedicated labs, materials and digital technology
- Large Learning Neighbourhood ¿ featuring 14 general classrooms, multiple presentation and seminar spaces and an array of quiet and small group collaborative areas.
- Performing Arts building ¿ featuring specialised drama, music and media spaces as well as four Food Technology rooms
- Large Community Hub ¿ features 3 indoor basketball courts and multi-purpose exercise rooms
- Outside ¿ we have extensive outdoor basketball courts as well as manicured landscaping that allows for multipurpose outdoor learning experiences.
Stage 2 funding has just been announced in the latest state budget and is due for completion by the start of the 2027 school year.
Our Values:
Brinbeal Secondary College¿s values are:
Respect ¿ Have honour or regard for the worth of oneself, others and the school environment.
Acceptance ¿ Value all members of the community as they present themselves and wish to be seen.
Aspiration & Achievement ¿ Set ambitious goals and strive to achieve them.
Working at Brinbeal SC:
All staff at Brinbeal Secondary College have qualities which ensure the effective learning & wellbeing of our students at the school.
- This is a unique and exciting opportunity for you to work in a brand-new secondary school in the heart of the western suburbs, catering for the diversity of learners.
- You will be empowered by education support staff, teachers and leaders in a highly collaborative workplace, with opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
- As we grow, we will have many opportunities for leadership and positions of responsibility including Leading Teachers, Learning Specialists, Learning Area Leaders, Student Managers, Student Support Services etc.
- The Principal Class have an open-door policy and are always available to staff. They are highly visible both in the yard and frequent classes.
- Staff are highly motivated and skilled and are active contributors to the creation of a high achieving secondary school.
- Our staff are committed to professional learning and growth for both self and others to ensure we are maximising the learning outcomes of all students.