Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 2
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Gippsland - East Gippsland
Reference: 1526626
(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 lead and nurture school-wide initiatives that align to Department of Education priorities such as the Kitchen Garden Program, which promote hands on learning, healthy habits, and environmental responsibility.
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
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 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:
Established in 1875, Swan Reach Primary School is a small rural school that aims to be a school with a strong sense of community, where positive relationships, high expectations and inclusive practices support students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
The school is located on the Princes Highway between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland.
At the end of 2025, the school had an enrolment of 100 students across five classrooms: Prep/1, Year 1/2, Year 3, Year 4/5 and Year 5/6. The teaching team consisted of 8.6FTE Teachers, including one teaching Principal and two Leading Teachers, supported by Education Support staff totalling 3.4FTE and a full-time Business Manager. The school's SFOE Index is 0.4340, which is classified as medium.
Students participate in weekly specialist classes in Physical Education, Visual Arts and The Resilience Project, as well as fortnightly sessions in the highly valued Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, which involves all students from Prep to Year 6. All students participated in Auslan lessons, developing their understanding of Australian Sign Language and inclusive communication. As part of this learning, students signed and sing the National Anthem together each week. The school is an active member of the Bairnsdale Tambo Network and the TUBBS cluster (Tambo Upper, Buchan, Bruthen and Swan Reach).
Swan Reach Primary School adopts a holistic approach to teaching and learning, with programs and practices reflecting the school values of Respect and Empathy for All.
During 2025, the school also undertook a School Review, resulting in the development of a new School Strategic Plan. The plan is focused on building knowledge and understanding about the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0's elements of learning and elements of teaching and on accessing the latest evidence based implementation approach to teaching and learning. Key priorities for the next cycle include improving literacy and numeracy outcomes, embedding a consistent whole-school instructional model, strengthening curriculum planning and collaboration, and continuing to improve student wellbeing and engagement. These priorities will guide the school's work through the 2026-2029 Annual Implementation Plans.
Student Attitudes to School Survey data indicates that students generally feel safe, included and connected to their school, with strong teacher-student relationships and a positive sense of belonging.
Parent opinion data similarly reflects high levels of trust in the school and its staff, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen communication with families about student learning and progress.
Staff survey results demonstrate a positive professional culture, with strong scores across leadership, professional learning, school climate and instructional practice. Staff report high levels of collaboration and collective responsibility for student learning, while also identifying workload and wellbeing as an important area for ongoing attention.
Swan Reach Primary School provides a wide range of opportunities that support student engagement in learning, social development and connection to school. These include school camps and sleepovers, buddy activities across year levels and targeted wellbeing programs such as Caring-Go-Round, the Friends for Life program and the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships Program.
Student engagement was further supported through the school's specialist programs, including Physical Education, Art and The Resilience Project, as well as participation in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Students also benefit from Koori support services, which strengthen cultural inclusion and support the wellbeing and engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The school takes an inclusive education approach, catering for students with additional needs.
Students have opportunities to celebrate their achievements and connect with the wider school community through regular acknowledgement of successes at school assemblies, participation in school events such as the School Fair, and involvement in cluster and interschool activities including, Summer and Winter sports and interschool athletics. Additional experiences, such as special performances and visiting presenters, further enrich students' learning and engagement.
Swan Reach Primary School consists of multiple classroom spaces, an extensive and up to date library, a music room, a comprehensive sports equipment shed and a fully equipped kitchen. The large grounds have an abundance of vegetable and sensory gardens, a full-sized, undercover basketball court, a rebound wall, a cricket pitch, a large oval, two playgrounds, a sandpit area and multiple areas that foster imaginative play in the natural environment.
In 2025 the school community celebrated 150 years of education, marking the school's establishment in 1875 and recognising its long history of supporting the academic, social and wellbeing needs of local students while building strong partnerships with families and the wider Swan Reach community. The school is also supported by a proactive and committed School Council, whose contributions play an important role in school improvement and strengthening connections between the school and the community.
Swan Reach Primary School remains committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment where strong relationships, engaging learning opportunities and a focus on student wellbeing enable every student to learn, grow and succeed.
For further information please visit their website