Behaviour Support Officer (Wellbeing Officer)

About Hymba Yumba Independent School: Hymba Yumba Independent School (HYIS) is an innovative First Nations school of excellence on the traditional lands of the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people in Brisbane. ‘Hymba Yumba’ means ‘Listening and Learning Place’ in Bidjara language and was gifted to the school by its Patron Uncle Albert Holt. Our school deeply embeds First Nations traditions of spirituality, identity, and culture into an educational excellence framework that focuses on the whole jarjum (child/ren) and their families. HYIS fundamental principles of Respect for myself, my family, my community, and my Country govern every action, decision, purpose ,and values of our educational program. The school is based at 6 Springfield Parkway, Springfield and was established in 2011. Springfield is the first privately built city in Australia and the largest master planned community in the Nation. Springfield and Ipswich area is home to the largest and fastest growing population of First Nations people within Brisbane. HYIS is overseen by a five-member Board who are committed to high standards of strengths-based education that works with and for each jarjum and their families. HYIS offers a strong focus on embedding Indigenous Knowledges and Ways of Working into its pedagogy to ensure that our jarjums have access to ‘real life’ learning. Operating from excellence, HYIS inspires jarjums to learn and lead in both worlds.

The Role: The primary role of the Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer is to liaise and provide support to jarjum (child/ren) and their families to ensure that HYIS is meeting its goal of providing a positive, happy, culturally affirming and supportive school environment. As part of the Wellbeing Team, the role will contribute to a vibrant and engaged educational community that is embedded in First Nations culture of excellence. The Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer will support jarjum to strengthen their relationships and community connections by empowering them and their families, acting as an advocate and supporting the team to deliver programs that enhance their social and emotional wellbeing. 

Key Responsibilities: HYIS’s Strategic Plan and School Improvement Plan focuses on transformative education for jarjum who are supported through engaged ecosystems and led by First Nations knowledges.

The Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer will primarily be responsible for jarjum who do not follow HYIS’s fundamental Principles of Respect – for self, family, community and Country. When jarjum do not follow these Principles, their behaviour must be managed through HYIS’s Behaviour Management Strategy. The Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer will be responsible for supporting these jarjum through as HYIS movestowards a proactive in-school, culturally affirming behaviour program as opposed to traditional punitive punishment models. The Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer, working as part of a team, will support jarjum to strengthen their cultural responsibilities, relationships and community connections. By looking after the personal needs of the jarjum while they are at school, the Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer will seek to empower them and their families, acting as an advocate and running activities that steer jarjum away from possible enrolment cancellation and back to HYIS’s Respects Principles. 

Selection Criteria: 

• Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of historical and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues. 

• The ability to work collaboratively to develop and implement effective cultural practices which provide for jarjum wellbeing. 

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge or capacity to gain knowledge of social, emotional, and mental health issues including culturally appropriate healing methods, trauma and grief counselling skills. 

• Work collaboratively to further develop the whole of school approach to Behaviour Support based upon relevant educational, First Nations research and the Hymba Yumba Respects Principles 

• The ability to assist the Wellbeing Team in developing and implementing programs to build staff capacity in reflective practice, trauma-informed pedagogy and behaviour management. 

• Support the Wellbeing Lead to provide opportunities for the professional development of teachers and support staff that meets the needs of HYIS’s wellbeing and behaviour management. 

• In collaboration with Wellbeing Team, foster a culture which promotes wellbeing across the community and provides support for wellbeing programs across HYIS. 

• Demonstrated ability in responding to critical incidents and supporting jarjum to de-escalate. 

• An ability to conduct behaviour assessments and demonstrated connections with culturally appropriate external agencies under the guidance of the Wellbeing Lead. 

• Demonstrated ability to model and follow wellbeing processes school wide. 

Key Duties:

• Work closely with others to promote and develop jarjum wellbeing, emotional resilience, positive relationships and a sense of community. 

• Collaborate with Heads of School, Leads, Community Engagement team and Guidance Officer/Counsellor in supporting the pastoral needs of jarjum. 

• Provide appropriate referrals for jarjum in accordance with HYIS approved protocols and processes.

 • Provide follow-up to jarjum and families including problem and conflict resolution measures that support jarjum and families. 

• Support the Wellbeing team to undertake jarjum welfare and preliminary wellbeing assessments and develop and implement strategies to improve jarjum welfare including follow up interventions with parents/carers where appropriate. 

• Engage with jarjum and provide supervision, directive and support to complete their in-school Behaviour Management Strategy as deemed by the Heads of School. 

• Assist in early identification of jarjum who are suspected of being at risk and disengaged.

 • Develop strong partnerships with external First Nations organisations to assist jarjum with the support they need outside of school business. 

• Develop and implement key activities for jarjum during their in-school Behaviour Management Strategy that reinforces HYIS’s Respects Principles, enables them to engage in the broader First Nations community and builds their resilience. 

• Ensure that all activities delivered to jarjum during their in-school Behaviour Management Strategy are consistent with HYIS’s protocols and values so that jarjum are nurtured, supported and engaged. 

• Collaborate with parents/carers and staff to further the wellbeing of individual jarjum through processes such as the Wellbeing team. 

• Carry out a range of administrative activities in support of the role including duties related to preparing and responding to relevant correspondence and the recording and maintenance of confidential information. 

• Provide pastoral support to jarjum in their peer relationships and their relationships with parents/carers.

• Participating in Bynda (school assemblies) and Bunji/Tidda group, presenting on topics of need when necessary and promoting HYIS’s in-house Behaviour Management Strategy.

• Support the Wellbeing Lead to implement initiatives to encourage a positive, caring and supportive environment at HYIS for jarjum, families and community members. 

• Act as a mediator between the school, jarjum, families and community members to enhance open communication. 

• Develop innovative and effective strategies and activities that support the building of relationships among and with jarjum, families, community members and stakeholder groups to promote communication and resolve issues of concern.

• Ensure individual records are accurate and meet HYIS requirements and standards.

• Participate in regular staff and wellbeing meetings and provide accurate reports to the Wellbeing Lead. 

Other 

The requirements of this position description are intended to describe the general nature and responsibilities of the work in this role. These statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks and skills required. Employees will also be required to follow any other job-related instructions and school policies, and to perform other job-related duties as requested by the CEO, or other delegated person, to support the school’s compliance with its legislative obligations. The CEO may, through consultation with the employee, vary the responsibilities of the position temporarily as required, but within the skills and responsibility levels appropriate to the position

Our Offer: 

HYIS’s Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer is classified under Hymba Yumba Independent School Collective Agreement 2021 – School Officers Level 6.1. Salary package is based on 38 hours per week and is $66,357.00 per annum. This package includes base salary, Superannuation, entitlements, laptop and mobile phone. 

The duration of the employment is ongoing. 

To Apply: 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

 To apply for the position of Behaviour Support - Wellbeing Officer, please send a Cover Letter (no more than one page) and your current resume to: 

Human Resources **@hyis.qld.edu.au 

For further information, please contact Karla Brady, Chief Executive Officer HYIS on (07) 3381 8*** or at *******@hyis.qld.edu.au.