Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1486038
Bridgewood Primary School and Integrated Child and Family Centre opened in January 2018. Located in the Cardinia Shire, this new school provides for families within Pakenham and Officer, including emerging estates within the south east growth corridor. Bridgewood complements the overall Officer Education Precinct, located adjacent to the site shared by Officer Secondary College and Officer Specialist School.
Through strong local governance and partnership, Cardinia Shire agreed to contribute land (0.4ha) and a $3 million capital investment towards this facility, to build and deliver a fully integrated child and family centre within the school setting. The Shire contracted Early Childhood Management Services to manage and deliver the kindergarten services. The early learning spaces are within the same building as the Foundation learning space, facilitating full integration of early learning and primary schooling. There is shared planning space for Kindergarten and Foundation staff, supporting professionals to collaborate and deliver enhanced learning, development and wellbeing opportunities for every child and family.
Bridgewood Primary School caters for Foundation to Year 6 students housed in four Learning Communities. The school is designed for a long-term enrolment in excess of 450 students with a peak enrolment of approximately 900. Current 2025 F-6 enrolments are 570. The Integrated Child and Family Centre comprises two Kindergarten rooms (three and four year old kindergartens) and a community space along with consulting rooms for Maternal and Child Health and visiting practitioners.
Bridgewood Primary School is part of a ground breaking precinct that is the embodiment of lifelong learning and community ownership. At the heart of this facility, it is recognised that the child is a competent learner from birth and this will drive professionals to deliver opportunities that encourage children to expand their capacities and deepen their understanding of the world. There are high expectations for every child.
Cardinia Shire has been instrumental in establishing support for this type of joined up approach. As a fully integrated facility, it allows for first contact at birth with the provision of fully operational Maternal and Child Care Health service, continuing through the availability of a range of parenting support programs including community and supported playgroups, new parents groups, Kindergarten, and specialist services such as speech and language, early intervention, Out of School Hours Care and primary schooling.
In addition to our strong partnership with the Cardinia Shire, Bridgewood is also fortunate to be supported through a partnership with the Colman Foundation, Our Place. A Community Engagement Coordinator was employed in 2018 through Our Place to support Bridgewood¿s commitment to community engagement. A second Community Engagement Team member was employed in 2019.
Teaching spaces allow for full implementation of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) approach. Learning Community Mentors (teachers) use a cycle of Diagnose, Intervene and Evaluate to frame their PLC inquiries. Learning Communities are designed around modifiable spaces that accommodate varied teaching and learning approaches, fluid groupings, and shared ownership. Responsibility for student learning across the community is shared by the team of mentors.
A high level of collaborative skills are necessary for effective teaching and learning within the learning communities at Bridgewood. Teaching methods used are evidence-based and consistent throughout the school. We plan to further activate student agency within learning and student voice within the community.
The Bridgewood Primary School Vision is `Improving outcomes for every child, every day¿.
Our commitment to student growth and achievement is paramount. Our teaching and learning programs are rigorous and consistent throughout the school. We have a strong focus on fundamental skill development, as well a deep commitment to applied learning. Teachers at Bridgewood commit to a PLC approach, which means a high level of collaboration. They commit to ongoing continuous improvement.
Bridgewood is a Leader In Me site. We have adopted Stephen Covey¿s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People/ Franklin-Covey¿s 7 Habits of Happy Kids throughout the school. All teaching staff receive training in the 7 Habits. The language of the 7 Habits is used throughout the school and explicit lessons are taught as well as the language being embedded throughout the school.
Our specialist programs for 2025 are Art, Physical Education, Chinese, Music and STEM.
[Attendance requirement for this position]
Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.
Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.
This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for parents and, to a lesser extent, students, with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for parents including collaborating with other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.
3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
4. Demonstrate leadership and provide professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students¿ learning and developmental outcomes.
5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
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.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
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