Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Principal - Range 4
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1526590
(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.
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:
Thomastown Secondary College is a co-educational, Year 7-12 government school in Thomastown, in Melbourne's north - on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country. Established in 1971, the school continues to be culturally diverse with ethnicities represented. Creativity, courage, respect and enthusiasm are among what we value in our pursuit of collaboration and individual excellence, that we hope our students are proud of. We embrace our obligation to contribute positively to the school and wider community.
With 430 students, 38.6 full time equivalent teachers (including a principal and 5 assistant principals) and 13.3 education support staff (including the Business Manager). The school has a Year 7-9 team and a Year 10-12 team with a Year Level Manager at each year level and an Assistant Principal in each team also.
The school is alongside Bubup Wilam Aboriginal and Child Family Centre and Thomastown West Primary School in a precinct on Main Street, neighbouring Thomastown Library and Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre and Edgars Creek.
As at March 2026, the school's Student Family Occupation and Education SFOE Index is 0.5915 (March 2026); the school is in the High band (highest band of social disadvantage). Almost 18% of students have English as an additional language. 2% of students (10) identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Last year's Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability showed 14% of students (61) require adjustments and possibly support. Feeder primary schools include the co-located Thomastown West PS, Thomastown Meadows PS, Lalor Gardens PS and Thomastown PS. The school is accessed by the Victorian School of Languages classes outside of school hours.
The school has a personalised and small school feel, with all staff knowing students and on a first name basis. Graduates are commonly the parents of new enrolments at Year 7. Year level specific instruction includes English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Technology and The Arts and an elective program from Year 8 that allows students the opportunity further develop skills and knowledge in areas of interest. A genuine sense of community is achieved when every individual feels valued and respected and where the richness of cultural and ethnic diversity is recognised.
At Thomastown Secondary College, students are supported to strive for Individual Excellence in all aspects of their studies and in the way they carry themselves within their school community.
They are curious, creative and enthusiastic about their learning. They are encouraged to be respectful, to work collaboratively and to accept responsibility for themselves.