Education Officer - Gtac

University High School is a large inner-city secondary school, catering to the local area including Parkville, Carlton and the Melbourne CBD.  The school has a long and proud history of providing outstanding educational opportunities to its diverse local community. Our students, and our families, are the heart and soul of our school. In 2024 we have approximately 1900 students enrolled, approximately 150 of whom are in the specialist science program for Year 11 and 12 students, Elizabeth Blackburn Sciences. This is a select-entry program, but UHS itself is a neighbourhood, not a select-entry, school. In 2024, the school is in the third year of a new Strategic Plan and a new leadership structure, with a strong focus on student relationships and connection to school; and on emphasising student learning growth through responsive teaching.

The school¿s values have recently been redefined. They are:

• Curiosity: We are open to new ideas about the world and each other. We seek to learn, explore and understand.
• Kindness: We treat each other and our world with respect, humanity and empathy.
• Excellence: We uphold high standards, challenging ourselves to grow in all we do. We persevere and show resilience to be our best.
• Connection: We know that we are stronger together. We work to ensure that all belong equally in our community.

Students are expected to engage with all aspects of the formal curriculum and recognition is given to both outstanding achievement and to positive participation. The co-curricular program caters for a wide range of student interests and abilities and student participation at all levels is fostered. Student voice and leadership is embraced within the school and at all levels through a variety of forums.

The school¿s curriculum encompasses the breadth of Domain learning areas with students undertaking a wide choice of subjects. A focus on breadth of experience permeates Years 7-9 whilst individual pathways and choice are the core at the senior level. Year 9 students participate in The Galileo Program, an enquiry-based program that encourages the development of life-long learning skills through a rich inquiry and community-based curriculum for one term of the year. Year 8 students participate in a Renaissance Program with the principles of ethical, creative and critical thinking at its core. Strong community links are an essential part of all of the programs that exist within the school.

Staff work in collaborative teams through domains, program areas and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). A wide range of professional development opportunities, in both internal and external contexts, are available to all staff.

GTAC ¿ The Gene Technology Access Centre is one of six specialist science and mathematics centres in Victoria. It is located at The University High School in Parkville.

GTAC¿s focus is to promote a scientifically literate community inspired by experiencing authentic investigations in the life sciences. We provide an innovative and collaborative educational environment in which Victorian students and Educators access life sciences expertise through engagement with practicing scientists and contemporary knowledge and technology.

GTAC showcases life science research and careers including focus areas in cell and molecular biology, digital technologies and mathematics, including biotechnology, immunology, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, microbiology, biochemistry, medical and health sciences, agriculture and predictive modelling.

GTAC has a staff of 11 individuals: director, deputy director, 6 Education Officers, laboratory manager, IT manager and administration officer. This is complemented by casual employment of approximately 60 post graduate students who assume the role of scientist mentors.

GTAC differs from the usual school environment as we have teachers and students book into our programs from across the state. Every day new groups of students and teachers arrive at GTAC and are excited at the opportunity to use research grade technologies guided by scientist mentors. We are very proud of our reputation as leaders in life science education.