Education Support

Macedon Primary School is located in the foothills of Mount Macedon, 60 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and 8 kilometres from Gisborne. It serves the semi-rural community of Macedon.  Established in 1869, the school maintains a current enrolment of approximately 260 students mainly drawn from the local area and the area south of Woodend. Macedon Primary School boasts a long and proud history of providing high quality learning opportunities for children. The teaching and educational support staff at Macedon Primary School offer high level expertise in providing quality educational outcomes for all of our students. The teachers work in close knit teams and strive to continually improve their practice to support the emotional and academic growth of all students. Our learning community is guided by our school motto, “caring, sharing, learning” and we pride ourselves on our supportive culture and our continuous endeavour for excellence.

At Macedon Primary School, the environment plays an important role in bringing our curriculum to life. Students are regularly immersed in their bushland surroundings which play an active role in inspiring and setting the tone for their educational experiences. The school week includes regular teaching, learning and play in Middle Gully Reserve, a five acre bushland reserve opposite the main school site. In Middle Gully Reserve students, supported by teachers and a dedicated volunteer parent committee, take part in a number of exciting initiatives. We link in with experts in the field such as the CSIRO scientists in schools program and the students engage in meaningful learning. Some of the activities we complete regularly include monitoring the water quality in our dam, regularly tending to the garden, tracking and photographing local wildlife and learning about our local indigenous history through immersion in the bush.

The learning in Middle Gully Reserve is complimented by our extensive camping and outdoor education program in which students learn about teamwork, responsibility and the natural surroundings while developing their resilience.

A key feature of our school is the high level of parent involvement and support in all aspects of the school year. This strong and healthy partnership acts as an important home/school link and benefits our students and school thoroughly.

School Purpose Statement

- To provide comprehensive and innovative programs to enable our children to reach their full potential and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to become lifelong learners.

- To develop in children a sense of resilience and the ability to value themselves and others.

- To encourage the qualities of initiative, persistence and excellence to be successful in an ever changing world.

School Values

The following school values outline the behaviour and attitude we hope to see in all members of the school community to foster the ideal learning environment for the students:

- Respect:  Caring for yourself, others, property and the environment

- Responsibility:  Being accountable for your words and actions

- Creativity:  Producing original ideas and using your imagination

- Integrity:  Being honest, sincere and trustworthy

- Teamwork:  Working together, sharing and learning collaboratively

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.

SC7  A demonstrated capacity to support neurodivergent students to access their learning.

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 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.

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

This vacancy is specifically linked to Student Support Funding and is ongoing. If the funding reduces or ceases during the first seven years of employment, employment may cease subject to the provision of at least 12 weeks’ notice.