Education Support 1-2 - Student/Teacher Support

Lakes Entrance Secondary College is the sole secondary school provider in Lakes Entrance.  As such, it occupies a prominent and significant role in the town and is a focus of community and educational connections. The College has 300 students drawn from the Primary schools of Swan Reach, Nungurner, Lakes Entrance, Toorloo Arm and Metung. The College serves the needs of a diverse population, where the economy of the town is based upon the fishing industry, and a variety of services and trades, agriculture, fishing, and tourism. The location is a superb combination of ocean and forest, with a mild and temperate climate year-round, abundant opportunities for exploring, hiking, trail riding, surfing, walking and with proximity to the ski fields. Restaurants and cafes abound, and the area is growing in recognition for its infrastructure development, reasonably priced housing, and growth potential. Roads in and out are excellent and the atmosphere is welcoming and inclusive. The College is proud to reap the benefits of all these desirable factors. Working at Lakes Entrance Secondary College brings with it abundant lifestyle and professional potential.

The aim of the College is to prepare students for life as active, happy, curious, and engaged citizens. Teachers work to provide an understanding of opportunity and possibility, where diverse skills are valued, and aspirations are carefully nurtured. Our college values are ‘Respect for Self, Respect for Others and Respect for Learning.’ The College curriculum is designed to develop the academic, social, and personal skills of each student. There is a strong focus on respectful relationships, historical and geographical understanding and reaching full potential. There is a strong wellbeing perspective, programs to support good decision making and impactful career advice. Our links to all aspects of the Lakes community run deep and enable a well- structured pathway for the aspirations of all our students.

The Years 7 to 9 curriculum at the College develops a common set of knowledge and skills and has been designed to meet the diverse educational needs of all our students and to provide them with stimulating and valuable learning experiences both within the classroom and through extra-curricular activities. We aim to offer a stimulating Camp program at each year level, a robust Sports program and celebrate many outstanding achievements of our students, both academic and personal.  The curriculum has been mapped against the skills and knowledge each student will need as they move into the later years of schooling and ultimately further education and employment. There are programs to support all abilities and, the virtue of a relatively small school means that we know our students well and can facilitate the strongest possible outcomes for them and their families.  Year 9 students experience an off-campus curriculum at our local fishing precinct, Bullock Island, where they engage closely with the community, learn about themselves and the world of work and future possibilities.

The College is led by a Principal, Assistant Principal, 2 Learning Specialists and 4 Leading Teachers with a staff of 30 teachers and 12 Educational Support Staff. The focus on student well-being, safety and resilience resides with a team of coordinators led by a leading teacher and supported by a Student Wellbeing team including a School Nurse, Chaplain and Mental Health Practitioner.

The College’s teaching and learning focus is guided by current research and evidence-based pedagogy, which involves a diagnosis of learning needs, and effective interventions to enable consistent growth for each student. All teaching staff learn together and apply themselves to ongoing professional learning.

The College is a strong nexus between our community, the students and parents and the wider world of opportunity and further education. Strong teaching and learning underpin all of our endeavours and the drive towards continual improvement lends a dynamism to the workplace.

SC1  Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2  Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3  Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4  Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5  Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6  A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

An Education Support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other Education Support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An Education Support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised Student/Teacher Support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An Education Support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an Education Support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised Student/Teacher Support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
• Supports communication between teachers and parents
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
• Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
• Supports teachers in the coordination of educational programs independently or under minimal supervision, including rostering and organising the work of a team of aides, providing routine co-ordination, guidance, and support to other student support staff, liaising with external providers of support services about clearly defined support needs and resources, assisting teachers with the communication of student outcomes and educational programs
• Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
• Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

The Department of Education 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.  It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 *** or email on: **********@education.vic.gov.au

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

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

• 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