Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher - Range 2
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Grampians - Northern Grampians
Reference: 1507905
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
Please ensure that your application includes:
Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.
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.
Stawell Primary School, is a historically significant school, located centrally in the town of Stawell in the West Grampians Network. `502¿ ¿ as the school is known locally, has a current enrolment of 260 making it the largest primary school in Stawell and third largest in our network, with students drawn from both the town and surrounding rural districts.
The school grounds include both passive and active play spaces including a sensory garden, cubby area, adventure playgrounds, mud kitchen, quiet space, basketball and netball courts, and a newly refurbished oval.
Stawell Primary School¿s Vision and Values statement reflects the importance placed on developing both the academic progress and the emotional wellbeing of all students. The school¿s mantra of 502-P.R.I.D.E. (Participation, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence) sets important standards in terms of work effort, behaviour expectations, and aspirations for all. We aim to be proud of ourselves, proud of our work, proud of our school, and proud of our community.
Stawell Primary School has thirty three staff members comprising of: two Principal class, one Learning Specialist seventeen teachers, six Education Support staff including a welbeing coordinator and a canteen manager.
The school¿s leadership profile consists of the Principal, Assistant Principal, Learning Specialist, three Community of Practice (COP) leaders, and three Learning Community (LC) Leaders.
The school¿s grade structure consists of 13 classes, grouped into three teaching and professional learning units:
Prep¿Year 2, Year 3¿4 and Year 5¿6.
The school provides a Foundation to Year 6 learning program based on the Victorian Curriculum differentiated to meet student needs. It offers Specialist subject areas of: PE, the Arts, Science, and Chinese as the Language Other Than English (LOTE).
Enrichment programs include swimming, Hands on Learning program, extensive camps and excursions opportunities, sporting programs, and a strong transition process involving local kindergartens (K-P), Stawell Secondary College (6-7 transition), and the broader community.
Student leadership plays an important role within our school, enabling students to build their leadership capacity, whilst providing opportunities for student voice and agency. Our school has a strong link with Stawell Secondary College in supporting opportunities for student-led programs by secondary students. The school has an active JSC (Junior School Council) with members from Grae 4 to 6.
Our school provides a range of extra programs to support student well-being and to develop resilience and social skills, including mentoring and buddy programs. Our Mental Health in Primary Schools coordinator and associated programs such as Mates Mentors, Breakfast Club, One Red Tree (Federation University of Ballarat provisional psychologist), Secondhand Uniform Shop, and a dedicated Wellbeing Room, provides well-being support for students and their families.
The school actively encourages parent and community partnerships which support student learning and well-being. Parent helpers regularly assist in classrooms and with school events. Our students are encouraged to be active members of the Stawell community.
'Striving to be the best you can be' continues to be the goal for all members of our school community.