Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 4
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Grampians - Golden Plains
Reference: 1523403
(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 capability to effectively manage the complexity of a multi-campus school, supporting the priorities of both the unique needs of four communities and the school.
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 1994, Woady Yaloak Primary School was formed through the community-driven amalgamation of four rural schools located in Smythesdale, Snake Valley, Scarsdale and Ross Creek, approximately 20 kilometres south-west of Ballarat. This union brought together four historic goldfields communities and continues to reflect the strong rural identity of the area.
Woady Yaloak PS operates as a multi-campus school, offering the intimate setting and strong relationships typical of small rural schools, while providing the resources, opportunities and professional collaboration associated with a larger school. The school is committed to unifying these four communities and fostering a strong sense of belonging for students, staff and families. Our shared vision is captured in our motto: ¿Achieving Together.¿
The school operates under a single administrative structure, with the main administration centre located at the Smythesdale campus. All campuses have benefited from significant capital works in recent years. The Smythesdale, Snake Valley and Scarsdale campuses feature modern learning studios that open into large flexible spaces used for campus-wide activities, assemblies and specialist learning areas such as libraries and visual arts spaces. The Ross Creek campus includes open-plan learning spaces, dedicated intervention rooms and additional flexible learning areas to support small-group instruction and targeted teaching.
Each campus is supported by attractive outdoor learning and recreation environments, including extensive grounds and four recently installed playgrounds that support active play and outdoor learning.
In 2026, Woady Yaloak Primary School has 310 students and comprises of 16 classrooms across the four campuses. Specialist teachers deliver programs in Japanese (LOTE), Health and Physical Education, The Arts and Science, ensuring students have access to a broad and engaging curriculum. Each campus has an office-based Education Support (ES) staff member, with additional ES staff working across the school to support student learning, wellbeing and targeted intervention programs.
Leadership is provided by one Principal and two Assistant Principals, who work across all four campuses to support the Campus Heads and ensure consistent implementation of school priorities and practices.
As one school community, we share common beliefs, values and a clear educational mission. We place a strong emphasis on the development of literacy and numeracy, while also fostering student wellbeing, resilience, tolerance and a healthy lifestyle. This work is supported by our Behaviour Education Program, with a strong focus on embedding the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework to promote safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments.
Staff at Woady Yaloak Primary School are committed to ongoing professional learning and collaborative practice. Teachers work closely across campuses to share expertise, implement evidence-based teaching strategies and ensure high-quality learning experiences for all students.
Please contact Karen Biggelaar, if you would like further information including the opportunity for a school tour.