Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 2
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Loddon Mallee - Buloke
Reference: 1497930
(a) Vision and values
Demonstrated capacity to create a shared vision, define and gain acceptance of school goals and set and communicate expectations for effective performance.
(b) Teaching and Learning
Demonstrated ability to manage the quality of teaching and create a positive culture of challenge, support and collaboration.
(c) Improvement, Innovation and Change
Demonstrated capacity to produce and implement clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies and lead innovation and change.
(d) Management
Demonstrated capacity to ensure that the school's human, physical and financial resources are efficiently allocated and managed.
(e) Development
Demonstrated capacity to create a professional learning community that is focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning, supporting all staff to achieve high standards and commitment to their own learning and wellbeing.
(f) Engagement
Demonstrated capacity to develop positive relationships with students, parents/families and the local community and participate in and contribute to system-level activities.
(g) Community Criterion
Demonstrated capacity to develop a nurturing and stimulating learning environment that supports the needs of the whole child and continues to build strong partnerships with families and the broader community to maintain Donald Primary School's friendly rural appeal.
The role of the principal is to lead and manage the planning, delivery, evaluation and improvement of the education of all students in a community through the deployment of resources provided by the Department and the school community.
At the same time, the principal, as executive officer of the school council, must ensure that adequate and appropriate advice is provided to the council on educational and other matters, that the decisions of the council are implemented and that adequate support and resources are provided for the conduct of council meetings.
The principal is accountable for the overall management and development of the school within statewide guidelines and Government policies. A clear set of accountabilities, which distinguish their work from other members of the Teaching Service and the education community are set out in detail in the contract of employment.
The core accountabilities of all principals are to:
Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
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
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.
To be eligible for appointment as a principal a person must either:
Donald Primary School is a small rural school situated in the Buloke Shire, 280 kilometres northwest of Melbourne in the Wimmera. In 2024 we celebrated this school having served the township for its 150th year.
Donald takes pride in welcoming new families and allowing them to share our values and become a valued part of the school and wider friendly community.
The school is set in expansive and attractive grounds that provide opportunities for passive and active play. The school has a community-built stadium and there is a range of learning spaces which provide flexibility for learning and opportunities for collaboration. In 2022 a sensory garden was constructed and is used by individuals, small groups and classes.
Donald Primary School currently has 85 students enrolled. In 2025 Donald is running 4 generalist classrooms with Art, Science, PE and Digital Technologies, SOSE, LOTE and Respectful Relationships also being taught.
The school staff, council, parents and students have worked hard to improve the facilities at the school, set high expectations for student learning outcomes and establish a culture of caring for everyone in the school community. The number of FTE staff employed at our school is 10.99.
Donald has solid academic results and above similar school results. In recent years, Donald has been consistently over the State Mean in NAPLAN further highlighting our stimulating and nurturing learning environment.
The partnership between parents and teacher is seen as vital to supporting student learning and developing the 'whole child' approach that exists at the school.