Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1505893
Coburg Special Developmental School caters for 75 students aged 5-18 with an intellectual disability typically with an IQ below 50. Some students have additional learning needs such as challenging behaviours, communication, and high sensory needs. We provide a caring and challenging environment that enhances learning, personal growth, and wellbeing for all students.
Coburg SDS relocated in April 2024 to a new purpose-built school still located in Coburg and we are very proud of our calm and peaceful environment. Our new school has permanent facilities that allows us to cater for up to 96 students.
Coburg SDS staff work as a cohesive trans-disciplinary team with a child-centred approach which includes well established positive behaviour supports across the school, weekly classroom child centred learning collaborative meetings with our therapy staff, and allocated team planning time.
We have small class sizes and offer H&PE, Music and Art as specialist subjects. Our senior students run our Cafe Coburg as part of their internal Work Experience.
Coburg SDS delivers educational programs that build independence, engagement, and improved outcomes and are looking for staff who are eager to join a team that will `make a difference¿ for our school. Our current strategic plan ensures communication, functional skills and social and emotional learning are embedded through all aspects of our programs. We provide our students with a practical and functional program that includes social, physical, sensory, and work education. The development of effective communication systems for all our students is a major focus. Our curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum with a majority of students working on levels A-D.
Learning goals for each student are established through negotiated education plans developed in collaboration between education and therapy staff and families.
Our three school values ¿Building Relationships¿, ¿Building Communication¿ and ¿Building Independence¿ are an integral part of our school day and reflect the importance placed by the school on our SW-PBIS framework.
Occupational Therapists will inform classroom teams in areas of expertise. Occupational Therapists work collaboratively with classroom teams to develop, plan and implement a child centred learning program for students.
Occupational Therapists¿ core accountabilities include:
Providing classroom teams with strategies to assist the students toward maximum access to, and participation in, all aspects of the curriculum. Strategies include play and social skill development, fine and gross motor skill development, emotional regulation, activities of daily living (ADLs), sensory processing, specialised equipment (alternative seating), adapting the environment to meet the needs of each individual student within the school setting and positive behaviour supports and support with engagement and participation in activities.
Utilising educational areas to promote the development and acquisition of skills necessary for life roles and occupations.
Contributing to the development and implementation of IEP goals.
Collaborating with the classroom team to ensure educational goals are generalised across the day.
Collaborating with classroom teams to complete appropriate assessment related to IEP goals.
Contributing to the planning of sessions and organisation of resources in conjunction with the classroom team.
Providing professional development to staff and the wider school community.
Completing assessment and relevant documents for funding through the Disability Inclusion Funding Model.
Completing assessment and reports for graduating students to support their transition for post-school options.
Liaising with other department areas and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
Applying for grants for the school to receive support and/or equipment.
1 .Appropriate occupational therapy assessments of students 5-18 years.
2. Planning and implementing appropriate programs to meet the needs of students.
3. Liassing with and counselling parents regarding their childrens needs and remedial programs.
4. In service staff and parents on occupational therapy programs and iniatives.
5. Assesment and report writing for individual students for funding under DI funding.
6. Attending appropriate meetings: Professional development, staff and team.
7. Attend professional development.
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of 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