Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Barwon South West - Greater Geelong
Reference: 1531934
Geelong High School is a positive and creative learning community that embraces its history and prepares students for life.
We are committed to:
Developing caring and respectful relationships;
Empowering people to realise their potential through effort, responsibility and teamwork;
Building healthy, resilient and productive global citizens.
Our core value is: RESPECT
Responsibility,
Effort,
Service,
Positivity,
Excellence,
Creativity,
Teamwork.
Geelong High School is a Year 7 - 12 co-educational school located near the centre of Geelong "The City by the Bay", and adjacent to a significant parkland area. Established in 1910, Geelong High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in the region. It has a proud history, celebrating its centenary in 2010, and is held in high regard by the Geelong community.
Current enrolment is approximately 975 students, drawn mainly from the nearby areas of East and South Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and across Geelong.
The Leadership Team comprises a Principal, three Assistant Principals, the Business Manager, IT Manager and eight Leading Teachers. There are approximately 110 staff, of whom 75 are teaching staff.
The school motto, VITAE NOS PARAT, which means "It (the school) Prepares Us For Life", provides a basis for the total school curriculum, and there is a strong recognition within the school, that the various elements of the school community work in partnership to achieve optimum outcomes for all our students. Students are supported and encouraged to reach their full academic and personal potential, through innovative and engaging teaching programs such as the Geelong Positive Engagement Program (GPEP), Respectful Relationships and Reading Plus. In 2013 Geelong High School introduced Positive Education, based on the elements of positive psychology, to build a strong culture of optimism and growth mindset across the school.
The Geelong High School curriculum comprises a core year 7 and 8 program (including Positive Education), a core and elective program across years 9 and 10, and the later years program where students may study a combination of VCE, VET, VCE Voc Major and Australian school-based apprenticeships (SBATs).
The use of learning technologies in the classroom is a priority at Geelong High School with appropriate PD being offered to staff and a 5 year eLearning plan currently being implemented. The school has an extensive computer network that is continually evolving. The school is fully 1:1 with BYOD for years 7-12.
Central to the structure and operation of the school is the house system. All students are actively involved in the house system and the student management and welfare of students is centred on this structure. Student leadership is an integral part of the school culture. Leadership amongst students is actively encouraged and celebrated at all levels with students being given the opportunity to be involved in the decision making processes of the school. Leadership opportunities come from a broad range of activities such as the School Captains, SRC, House Captaincy, Band Captains and Performing Arts, Green (Sustainability) Team. Geelong High School aims to build on strong community links and to be supportive of all members of its community.
Selection Criteria
SC1:
Demonstrated ability to form collaborative partnerships with families, staff and community member from a range of professional backgrounds.
SC2:
Has an understanding of a variety of evidence based Occupational Therapy interventions that are neuro-affirming that can be implemented by teachers and support staff.
SC3:
Ability to work independently to provide individual and group based programs.
SC4:
Demonstrated high level organisational, communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively with young people, parents/carers and teachers as well as professionals in the education and health systems
SC5:
Demonstrated ability to provide ongoing support and professional development to teachers, students and the wider community to enhance the wellbeing and learning needs of all students
SC6:
Demonstrate a clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
Role
The role of an Occupational Therapist within the school is to fulfill a health professional position with expertise to provide consultative and direct clinical services for students within the school environment. The objective of the therapeutic techniques is to improve or maintain students' ability to perform everyday activities and develop independence.
The position covers three main areas:
Case management support, which has a strong mental health wellbeing focus.
Whole school wellbeing guidance, particularly with cross-over between the Wellbeing and Disability Inclusion teams.
Counselling services, both one-to-one and/or small group therapy.
The successful Occupational Therapist will:
contribute to the development of a whole school approach to encourage student, engagement, learning and wellbeing.
Education Support Class Level 1 Range 4
The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
For more information on the responsibilities of an Education support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/rolesTS.aspx
Attendance requirement for this position is 15.2 hrs per week, preferably on a Monday & Tuesday; however, days may be negotiable.
The position reports to the Assistant Principal ¿ Student Wellbeing & Engagement, and the Business Manager.
Case management support:
Respond to student wellbeing referrals by providing assessment and individual case work to support students and parents/carers.
Work in consultation with teachers, disability inclusion staff, and parents to identify priority social wellbeing inclusion needs and develop a case management plan, provide support, advocacy, referral and information as required, through Student Support Group Meetings.
Maintain comprehensive and confidential data collection records related to student case management plans.
Support staff with modelling of strategies to support students with additional needs.
Whole School Wellbeing guidance and programs:
Participate in planning and delivery of programs aligned with AIP work.
Develop and maintain networks with relevant students and community agencies to assist young people and their parents/carers in gaining access to services.
Facilitate or deliver professional learning to staff in relation to whole school wellbeing programs
Counselling Services:
Provide treatment focused counselling utilising evidenced based skills in assessment, case formulation and treatment planning.
Utilise a range of child-focused therapeutic modalities and interventions.
Provide ad-hoc supportive counselling to students as needed.
Effectively manage a counselling caseload and facilitate external referrals to mental health services/external mental health professionals, including allied health services.
Required
Applicants must:
hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification in Occupational Therapy
have demonstrated direct counselling experience.
have a current Working With Children Check.
hold full registration with the requisite professional body (APHRA, and OT Australia).
Desirable
Applicant to hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.
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
All applicants must have a personal profile on Recruitment on Line and ensure that it is up to date including Working With Children Check information. Applications should also be lodged on Recruitment on Line to ensure that notification of outcomes is delivered to a current email address.
To commence Work at Geelong High School the successful applicant must have current Working With Children Check.
Applications must include:
1. A specific response to each of the key selection criteria and position details. It is suggested that applicants limit their response to no more than 6 pages.
2. A Resume with a summary of experience and qualifications.
3. The names and contact details of up to three referees who can provide information regarding the applicant in relation to the key selection criteria.
The panel reserves the right to request additional referees other than those listed.
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.