Work Type: Ongoing - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 2
Occupation: Education and training
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1542416
Preston West Primary School is located on Murray Road Preston, in the City of Darebin. While located in a residential area, the school is in close proximity to the Preston Market and High Street shopping precinct. The main school building is a double storey brick building that was built in 1915. A gymnasium, built in 2010, also accommodates a music room and our Before and After School Care Service. The gymnasium has a surrounding landscaped garden and dry creek river bed. A double storey building, accommodating four classrooms was completed in 2013 and five new buildings were erected in 2016 for students in Grades 4-6. Two galleries were constructed in 2017/18 to establish the Grade 4 and Grade 5 learning communities. Preston West Primary School has a rich history of educational excellence. Serving the community for over 111 years, the school motto coined in 1915, `Duty First¿, is just as important in today's setting.
Our school encourages students to strive for excellence in all their endeavours. Our core purpose is to provide an inclusive and rigorous learning environment that challenges and engages children to grow as passionate learners. The school seeks to develop motivated, creative and independent learners who demonstrate strong social values and whose leadership, resilience and self-esteem is evident when interacting with the community. The school values are LEARN (Leadership, Excellence, Acceptance, Respect and Never Give Up).
Preston West Primary is a high performing school, placing great emphasis on academic outcomes. Our achievements are consistently significantly above state benchmarks in all areas. We are extremely proud of our reputation for providing a comprehensive and challenging curriculum, academic excellence, valuable friendships and catering for each individual. Preston West Primary School is committed to improving the achievements of all students. This is achieved through the provision of a challenging academic program, based on the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 whilst reflecting worldwide best practice for 21st century learners. Our purpose is to provide a safe, stimulating and supportive environment that develops all students to their full potential - academically, socially and personally. We instil in students a lifelong love of learning. Our strong academic focus is supported by a multitude of extra-curricular activities and programs that provide a well-rounded education. Programs offered include Physical Education, Visual Arts, Music, Italian, STEAM and Intervention/Support.
Teaching staff are highly focussed, with ongoing professional development, to implement best practise to achieve improved outcomes for our students through explicit Literacy and Numeracy teaching models, shared curriculum planning, coaching, Peer Observations, Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and SPA (Student Performance Analyser). Staff work collaboratively in their teams to document a challenging and differentiated curriculum.
Student enrolments overall have risen dramatically over the past decade, which accounts for the significant expansion of the school's facilities. However, we are now encountering a greater stabilisation of our student enrolments ¿ 677 in 2026. Based on the school¿s Student Family Occupation and Education Index, the socio-economic status of the student cohort is in the high range.
Our school currently has 54 equivalent full time staff: 3 Principal Class, 39 Teachers and 12 Educational Support staff. Straight grades have operated across the school since 2014. In 2026 we have 29 grades (5 and 4 grades at all other year levels).
Our school review was conducted in Term 1 2026. The goals of our 2026-2030 Strategic Plan include:
Goal 1: Improve student learning outcomes
Key Improvement Strategies:
Goal 2: Improve student wellbeing outcomes
Key Improvement Strategies:
Our journey to ensure we are promoting the very best educational opportunities for all our students continues. Building on the rich history, we continue to work collaboratively with families, to create citizens that add great value to the Preston West community and beyond.
SC1 Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.
SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.
SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.
SC4 Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.
SC5 Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.
SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.
An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).
A role at this range may include:
An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.
Responsibilities may include:
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