Barwon Bridge Program Coordinator

Location Profile
Education is the centerpiece of the Victorian state. Our education system underpins our shared social and economic prosperity and strengthens Victoria’s communities and culture. Education provides the means for Victorians to make a living and, even more importantly, to create a life.
In Victoria, there are a significant number of learners who have been disengaged, or are vulnerable to disengaging, from education or training. Evidence from across Australia demonstrates that the likelihood of disengagement is increased by Indigenous status, having a language other than English spoken at home, living in rural areas and low socio-economic status. Learners who have mental health issues and/or a disability are also more likely to be disengaged. Homelessness, alcohol and drug use, exposure to family violence and trauma also feature in the backgrounds of disengaged young people. As a result, disengaged young people often need intensive, multifaceted supports to enable them to overcome these barriers and pursue educational success.
Selection Criteria
Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge and understanding of student learning and the capacity to respond to the educational needs of students experiencing, or at significant risk of experiencing, disrupted education.
Demonstrated ability to negotiate, influence, advocate and/or collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to children or young people, parents, statutory authorities, school staff, allied health professionals, welfare, and health professionals to implement evidence-based strategies to support students with challenging behaviours.
Demonstrated experience in mediation to build partnerships between families, other services, and schools to improve student learning outcomes particularly for individual students who may present with a range of personal challenges including challenging behaviours.
Demonstrated high level communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people within the education community and beyond; and capacity to work both independently and effectively within, and contribute to, the achievements of a team.
Demonstrated understanding of current education issues, Victorian Government priorities and policies relating to vulnerable children and young people and trauma-informed practice.
Role
ROLE CONTEXT:
The position is based at Newcomb Secondary College and provides outreach support and consultancy to Geelong and Colac Primary and Secondary Schools.
Support to Colac schools would make up 0.4 of the position, equivalent to 2 days per week.
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.
Responsibilities
The core purpose of the Barwon Bridge program is to provide support to schools to develop and implement a coordinated and agreed approach between families and other stakeholders to support students with challenging behaviours to self-regulate and fully engage with their learning to minimise the risk of disengagement.
The program model involves:
Engagement
receiving referrals for learners with complex behaviours and attendance issues who are at risk of disengaging from schooling. supporting the development of a coordinated approach between families, other services and schools to support the child or young person’s engagement at school. providing expertise to and liaison between services and schools to ensure clear communication, consistent approaches and shared planning to support children and young people’s successful engagement in education. supporting and mediating connections between schools and families. working with the school, young person and family and other services to develop an Individual Learning Plan ILP and Behavioural Support Plan for the child or young person to identify their learning needs, capabilities and aspirations. working directly with the school, family and other services to ensure the objectives outlined in the (ILP) are achieved. coordinating and work closely with schools to implement strategies to build the capacity of schools and teachers to support students with challenging behaviour at risk of disengagement. liaising with and referring the child or young person to other services to assist them to overcome learning, social and other barriers so that they can successfully engage and transition through education, including engaging support services where required.
Who May Apply
Desirable: Relevant teaching or allied health qualifications such as psychology or social work. Experience working in or having a strong understanding of school contexts is critical to the role.
EEO AND OHS Commitment
The Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
Child Safe Standards
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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx
DE Values
The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’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 DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx
Other Information
Candidates should be aware that the position requires travel to Colac two days a week. Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
PRIVACY NOTIFICATION:
We are collecting your personal information for the purposes of processing and considering your application for employment. We will use and disclose the information we collect from you only for these purposes. Unsuccessful job applications are retained for six (6) months and then securely destroyed.
Your personal information is kept secure and confidential and managed in accordance with the Department of Education and Training Information Privacy Policy. If you have any concerns about how your information is being managed or wish to obtain a copy of the Department's Information Privacy Policy please contact Corporate HR Services on 9637 3828 or visit our website http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/privacypolicy.aspx
Conditions of Employment
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx