Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3
Occupation: Education and training
Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs
Reference: 1503075
VISION
Epping Secondary College strives to enable and equip all young people to reach their full potential, of being curious and acquiring new knowledge and skills; of forming strong, valuable, healthy relationships; of participating in creative expression; and of building strong mental and physical wellbeing.
VALUES
The College values which underpin our behaviours and practice are:
Respect: we treat all individuals with respect. Our relationships are based on trust and mutual respect. We recognise the differing circumstances and needs of our students and are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for all.
Resilience: we strive to successfully adapt to challenging experiences and tasks through emotional, social, academic, and behavioural perseverance.
Care: we value community, build empathy with each other, and we act with integrity and compassion.
WORKFORCE
The 2025 staffing profile comprises of approximately 130 staff, including 4 Principal class, 11 Leading Teachers, 5 Learning Specialists and approximately 40 Education Support staff. The school workforce currently contains no identified indigenous employees.
LOCATION
Epping Secondary College is a co-educational 7-12 college established in 1976. Epping is a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, located 20 km north of Melbourne's Central Business District. The City of Whittlesea is the local government area.
SIZE & STRUCTURE
The student population at Epping Secondary College remains steady at 975. Epping Secondary College is physically organised in year level units to better support students through their different stages of growth as well as provide a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
A central element of educating the whole child at Epping Secondary College is our school-wide commitment to Positive Education. This approach is embedded through the `Learning for Life¿ curriculum and the broader culture of our school.
OVERSEAS STUDENT PROGRAM
Epping Secondary College is a safe, friendly and welcoming study destination, offering international students an enviable lifestyle that nurtures success and the confidence to take steps forward in life. In 2025 the school offered places for all year levels (7 to 12) and enrolled a total of 19 international students. Countries represented were India, Sri Lanka, Timor, Philippines, Iran, Vietnam, China and Fiji. The school has capacity for 20 international students. Our international students are here in Australia with their families studying the Victorian Curriculum or Victorian Certificate of Education.
SOCIAL & ENROLMENT CHARACTERISTICS
Epping Secondary College has a diverse and multicultural community with students representing over 35 nationalities. We have 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) students, forty percent of the student population have English as an additional language, providing us with 63 EAL students (funded English as an Additional Language) and 19 international students. The Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE) Index for the college in 2025 is 0.5083.
SC1
Demonstrated experience in addressing a range of student wellbeing needs, both through 1-1 mentoring and facilitation of small group therapeutic programs.
SC2
Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills including development of confidential professional records and case notes.
SC3
Demonstrated capacity to construct positive relationships with staff, external agencies and parents as required.
SC4
Relevant Bachelor or Diploma level qualifications in areas of youth work, social work, community development or similar.
SC5
Demonstrated organisational and time management skills leading to effective outcomes.
SC6
Demonstrated ability to support students and deliver programs which are considerate of the learning needs and perspectives of students from culturally diverse backgrounds, including those of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
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.
The Youth Worker will provide high quality advice and support to students and staff. They will support and comply with DET and College procedures and policies in order to best support the wellbeing and inclusion of students and to build the capacity of staff. They will provide individualised and group support to students to foster resilience, improve attendance and respond to identified behavioural, social, emotional and educational needs. Responsibilities as instructed by the Wellbeing Leading Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal.
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