Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 2
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Loddon Mallee - Greater Bendigo
Reference: 1544247
(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, stimulating and inclusive environment that supports the diverse social, emotional and educational needs and aspirations of all students and staff within our small rural setting.
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:
Tarnagulla Primary School, located in the township of Tarnagulla, is a rural community in the Loddon Shire, with a total enrolment of 18 students. The school was founded in 1874. The main school building incorporates two classrooms, a break¿out space, currently utilised as the school¿s library, staff and administration facilities. There are two portable classrooms used for specialist classes and OSHC. The grounds include one basketball court, an oval, bushland, and a new inclusive play space. The school staff consist of a principal, 2.0 EFT teaching staff, two part time specialist teachers (MARC Van and the Arts) and two part-time educational support staff. The SFOE is 0.57 which places the school in the High band.The National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) indicates that 60% of students receive adjustments with their academic or social & emotional learning.
The vision and belief of Tarnagulla Primary School is that all students have the potential to learn and succeed in an environment of dignity and respect. The school's mission statement, 'To Inspire Learning' emerges from this belief. The school continues to seek to create the ideal conditions in which the school community (students, staff and parents) is motivated and engaged with a mindset oriented towards their intellectual and personal development.
Tarnagulla Primary School undertook their school review in Term 4, 2025. As part of the review, students described the school as a supportive and child-focused environment where they received what they needed to be successful, including brain breaks and appropriate classroom supports. They reported feeling safe at school and highlighted the positive relationships they shared with staff. The curriculum at Tarnagulla Primary School reflects the Victorian Curriculum framework, with weekly specialist programs in Science, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Physical Education.
Tarnagulla Primary School provides a caring school environment where every child's effort and achievements are valued. Parents and carers form an important part of the school community and are encouraged to become involved in school life. Tarnagulla PS is an inclusive school community with expansive grounds that offer children plenty of room for exploration, learning, play and sport.
As a rural school, the staff value and prioritise opportunities to work collaboratively with other small schools. They are a member of Goldfields Small School Cluster. This cluster brings together small neighbouring schools for collaboratively coordinated sporting events such as swimming, cross country, athletics and summer sports as well as shared school camps and excursions program. This provides students with opportunities to interact with a greater cohort of students and build relationships that assist when transitioning to a shared local secondary college.