Work Type: Ongoing - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Classroom Teacher - Range 2
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: 1521276
KSC2 `Teaching practice¿. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health, wellbeing or learning.
KSC3 `Assessment and reporting of student learning¿. Demonstrated ability to support a student¿s mental health, wellbeing or learning by developing and maintaining connection with external services.
KSC4 `Interaction with the school community¿. Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills and communication skills. Demonstrated high level of capability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, other employees and the broader school community to focus on student learning, wellbeing and engagement.
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.
DE piloted the Mental Health in Primary Schools -initiative in Victorian schools between 2020 and 2022 in partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation of this pilot program showed that 95 per cent of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders consider the Mental Health in Primary Schools model 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, 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 teams where relevant, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader will:
Promote a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing to students, staff and families
Support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence-based mental health strategies, interventions and programs and build mental health literacy to identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns.
Collaborate with school staff to inform, influence and provide input into teaching and learning relating to mental health and wellbeing. Provide support to school staff and classroom teachers to build their capabilities to embed mental health into the classroom.
Work with school leadership and wellbeing teams to embed whole school approaches to mental health into school planning and strategic processes. Coordinate clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention.
Proactively work with and support regional and area staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and other external agencies to coordinate targeted mental health support for primary school students.
Contribute to the school¿s existing wellbeing team.
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
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.
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New DE employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
If appointed from outside DE, successful applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
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
To support DE's commitment to its Environmental Management System, DE employees are expected to act in an environmentally responsible manner at all times.
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 Collingwood College, we inspire young people to be well-balanced, strong and creative individuals who make a positive difference to our community. We provide a rich and diverse curriculum. The College is committed to continuous improvement to maximise outcomes for all students. Collingwood College believes in providing diversity within the Victorian government schools system and our range of programs promote a sense of choice and inclusion for students.
Our point of difference is our strength, and we are proud of our history of innovation and inclusiveness. Collingwood College is a government P-12 school established in 1882 and is located in the inner-city suburb of Collingwood, close to Melbourne¿s CBD. In 2025 the school had an enrolment of around 634 students with this number reduced in part due to the COVID pandemic and a decline in the international student population. The school has moved from high socioeconomic disadvantage to the mid-range of the School Family Occupation Education (SFOE) Index and was 0.4405 in 2025. The school draws students from many different suburbs in and around Melbourne. Collingwood College remains a culturally diverse school with 25% of the student cohort having a language background other than English and 2% of our student cohort being Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander. The projected numbers of international students enrolled has increased and in 2025 Collingwood College held 91 international students coming from a range of countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea.
Collingwood College offers innovative and progressive teaching approaches at all levels. The main campus is arranged into two sub schools, Primary and Secondary. Each sub-school is organised to create the most appropriate setting and approach for children at the different stages of their development. The college has a defined philosophy of education and has three main streams of learning, including a P-6 inquiry based mainstream learning approach, a secondary MYP IB mainstream program based on the Victorian Curriculum and a specialist P-9 Steiner Program. The College structures the Year 10-12 program to more intentionally prepare students for the VCE/VM/VPC pathways from Year 10. The second campus to Collingwood College, The Collingwood Alternative School (CAS) enrols students from 14 years old and operates through a re-engagement approach.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with appropriate challenges and educational opportunities and build their self-esteem. The program specifically focuses on numeracy and literacy development, the learning of social and behavioural skills, work/training readiness and the provision of the VM and VET options for senior students.
In 2026, the College (excluding CAS) had a full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff of 4 Principal Class, 3 Leading Teachers, 3 Learning Specialist, 119 teaching staff, and an Education Support Staff (ES) FTE of 36 Collingwood College offers a range of cocurricular programs, including the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, Instrumental Music, Visual and performing arts and outdoor education.
There are integrated programs to support all students, including: extension, intervention, integration and English as an Additional Language (EAL) program. The College¿s English Language Centre (ELC) re-opened again in 2022. The College¿s Main Campus features exemplary learning, athletic, and arts facilities. It is home to a well-equipped theatre, a dance studio, modernised science and technology sections, and a premier sports centre with three gymnasiums. The college's grounds are thoughtfully designed with various play and relaxation areas, complete with shaded seating, manicured gardens, and designated outdoor learning spaces. Collingwood College is committed to the philosophy that all students are capable of learning and achieving excellence. Collingwood College takes great pride in its strong ties and collaborative relationships with the surrounding local community