Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Assistant Principal - Range 2
Occupation: Principal and assistant principal
Location: Barwon South West - Warrnambool
Reference: 1513719
Ngurraga School is a purpose-built, inclusive learning environment supporting students with mild to profound intellectual disabilities. Guided by our motto, ¿Learning with purpose, growing through connection,¿ and grounded in the values of respect, growth, and teamwork, we are creating a nurturing community where both staff and students thrive.
Our school features specialised facilities to support high-quality learning, including flexible learning neighbourhoods, multi-purpose spaces for physical activity, performing arts, and food technology, playgrounds and sports courts, a library and administration building, secure bus zones, and dedicated staff parking. These spaces foster wellbeing, engagement, and strong educational outcomes.
We are committed to data-informed instruction, purposeful curriculum design, and collaborative professional learning communities. Staff are supported to deliver engaging, personalised learning experiences in a reflective and growth-focused culture.
The Secondary Assistant Principal will have the opportunity to:
Lead Years 7¿12 instructional programs and ensure continuity of learning
Develop VPC and ASDAN curriculum documentation for meaningful, personalised pathways
Guide teams in high-quality assessment, moderation, and evidence-based practice
Shape whole-school approaches to curriculum, pathways, engagement, and post-school transitions
Contribute to establishing systems, structures, and culture in a new school
Grow professionally in a collaborative, innovative, student-centred environment
Please note:
Ngurraga will initially share the site with Yurran P-9 College, operating independently. Enrolments in 2026 will begin for Foundation to Grade 5 students. Once the P-9 school moves to its permanent site (expected early 2027), Ngurraga will expand to Foundation¿Year 12, with up to 168 students.
For more information, contact Principal Elaine Quinn on 0424 958 867.
Outstanding capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership of a school
Highly developed skills in leading and managing change, including the leadership of others in the process of change.
Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.
Exemplary values appropriate to the development of student learning with a demonstrated capacity to achieve high-quality student outcomes
Demonstrated ability to implement policies to a high level.
A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team
A clear capacity to foster a learning environment that takes account of the individual needs of students to develop their special abilities and talents.
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group and community contexts
Exemplary values of objectivity, sensitivity and integrity,
An ability to work with parents and the community to develop a strong learning environment.
Demonstrated capacity to lead secondary programs that provide meaningful learning and post-school pathways for students with disabilities, and the ability to build strong partnerships that support successful transitions.
The assistant principal reports directly to the principal.
Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. In exercising the responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget. Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.
The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involve assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students.
Typically assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.
Typically, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
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
To be eligible for ongoing employment in special schools, the successful applicant must hold an approved special education qualification relevant to the position, or have worked continuously for greater than 3 years in a special school setting.
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.