Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4
Occupation: Education and training
Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs
Reference: 1534403
Hampton Park Secondary College is a large multi-cultural learning community situated in southeast Metropolitan Melbourne. We currently have over 1200 students, from over 60 cultural backgrounds. We have approximately 190 staff, comprising of Teaching and Educational Support staff. At Hampton Park Secondary College, we are rich in diversity and, by empowering and engaging students, wholehearted in our pursuit of excellence. Our vision of learning is underpinned by our values of Respect, Learning and Working Together. Through our values, we hope that our students manifest the qualities of understanding the world with a global view, engaging in life-long learning, and always being critical and creative problem solvers. Hampton Park Secondary College is committed to providing education that is both student-centred and focused upon personalised learning experiences. Several years ago, we redesigned our learning program to enable students to excel through a researched based, future focused model of student empowerment.
In 2022, we made structural changes to our Sub Schools. Following extensive collaboration and consultation with students and staff, our new House System was launched. Students and staff are now aligned with one of our four Houses: Hollows, Freeman, Mabo, and Walton. Each House comprises of students from Years 7-12 and includes staff from a range of positions and teaching areas. Our new House System has already created a stronger sense of connection amongst both staff and students, and we see Houses as being a powerful way to enhance student engagement and sense of belonging.
At Hampton Park Secondary College, we are deeply committed to improving student learning outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our students. Building upon our already extensive and intensive interventions that sit within our MTSS Framework, we have bolstered and extended these supports through refining our Literacy and Numeracy programs. As always, the programs for our at-risk students are mirrored by the opportunities offered to our High Ability students.
In 2023, we achieved the best senior school results the College has seen since its establishment over 40 years ago. We achieved a median Study score of 29, which was maintained in 2024. In 2025 we achieved the strongest NAPLAN results the College has received across both Year 7 and 9. In 8 out of 10 categories we were ahead of similar schools across the state.
Our College is a rich and diverse community that supports the whole child. We encourage those keen to get to know Hampton Park Secondary College more to visit our website: https://hpsc.vic.edu.au/
Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.
Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.
Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.
Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.
Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
Annual Leave
A full-time employee is entitled to 152 hours (20 days) annual leave in respect of each twelve months of service and accrues progressively during a year of service according to the employee's ordinary hours of work. Part-time employees receive annual leave entitlements on a pro rata basis calculated according to the time fraction worked.
Additional paid leave - education support class
A full-time education support class employee is entitled to 228 hours (30 days) additional paid leave in respect of each calendar year. Part-time employees receive additional paid leave entitlements on a pro rata basis calculated according to the time fraction worked.
Range 4 is distinguished by broader management responsibility, particularly in the areas of finance, human resource and other support functions. Range 4 is responsible for managing a range of functions under a wide range of conditions, subject to the size and complexity of school operations.
Objectives will, generally, be clearly defined; guidelines will be broad and day-to-day direction minimal. Management responsibility extends to ensuring appropriate support levels are maintained across the school. Range 4 generally provides key support and timely advice to the leadership team and school council and liaises with the general school community, the Department and other government agencies and service providers.
Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.
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.
Key Responsibility Areas
The roles and responsibilities of the Student Wellbeing Officer / Mental Health Practitioner includes:
Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students¿ wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.roles and responsibilities of the Student Wellbeing Officer / Mental Health Practitioner includes:
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of 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
Required
Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
Demonstrated direct counselling experience
Position Objective
The Student Wellbeing Officer will:
work as a member of the school¿s Wellbeing team in the delivery of student wellbeing services
contribute to improving student engagement and connectedness
contribute to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
operate within the school community and with external providers
Accountabililty, Authority and Decision Making
Delivery of a professional support service, including the development of policy and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school staff
Undertakes advanced interventions in dealing with particularly complex cases that may require cross-profession or agency collaboration
Provides expert advice in the professional field, which will influence the strategic approach to student learning and support
Actively promotes primary health care, mental health or wellbeing within the education curriculum. Provides information and facilitates links between the school community and relevant services
Delivers health and wellbeing education and promotion programs in collaboration with school community
Provides health and wellbeing advice to the school community
Implements evidence-based health promotion and preventative care within the school community
Provides leadership, training and development for others in the adaption and application of professional fields
Professional autonomy is generally limited by standard procedures and school and department policy
Support and guidance is close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy requires guidance and direction form the Student Services Leader and Principal Class
This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.