Es1-5 Head Start Hub Assistant Director

College Profile

Mildura Senior College is an educational landmark located in the heart of Mildura, in north-west Victoria 545 kilometres from Melbourne. The College has a student population in 2023 of 940 enrolled students with the addition of Year 10 VCE & VET external enrolments from surrounding schools.  The College is one of a small number of stand-alone Senior Colleges in the state catering exclusively for Year 11 and 12 students undertaking the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).   Mildura Senior College provides access to an unparalleled level of choice in the study areas of the VCE, VCAL, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and University Enhancement studies. The College has a clear commitment to the Managed Individual Pathways Program providing timetabled classes and Pathways Teachers advocate for all students. This unique learning environment is highly valued by the school community, which sees it as essential to students developing skills crucial to future success.

The College boasts outstanding facilities, which include the Deakin Trade Training Centre, VCAL Hub, Arts Precinct, Fitness Learning Facilities and numerous undercover student recreational areas.  The grounds boast three sporting ovals utilised by College students, neighbouring schools and community sporting groups.

The College is committed to providing suitable senior pathways for all senior students.  We work in partnership with our neighbouring 7-10 colleges:  Chaffey Secondary College, Irymple Secondary College, Merbein P-10 College, Trinity Lutheran College and Henderson College.   There is close cooperation with these colleges in the areas of Instrumental Music, EAL provision, sport, professional development programs, student transition and orientation.  Each year approximately 30% of enrolments come from outside these neighbourhood colleges and include public, catholic and independent schools.

The College provides a young adult learning environment and a learning philosophy built upon partnerships and strong relationships between teachers and students.  Mildura Senior College provides clear pathways to further study and the workplace.  Our mission is to deliver excellence in education and training opportunities for all students.  Students are supported by full time careers and VETis advisors, school to work coordinator, an extensive wellbeing team, student sub-school leaders and a team of staff experienced in the successful delivery of senior studies.  Mildura Senior College currently has 125 members of staff including 73 teaching staff.

Mildura Senior College is an inclusive environment that has a diverse student co-hort including Koori, Pacifica and EAL students and celebrates this diversity. The Clontarf Academy is one example of a program at Mildura Senior College, targeted at reducing educational disadvantage for students.

The College is committed to Respectful Relationships and being a Safe School. The College values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Independence and Success reflect the culture and behaviours the College aims to develop in students, to enable them to become outstanding young people as they transition on their pathways to the future.

• Demonstrated leadership capability and experience to implement and coordinate a program delivered across several schools/ sites
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills including negotiation, conflict resolution and celebrating success to maintain and support effective relationships with students, parents/families, education and training providers, and industry to deliver positive student outcomes
• Highly developed operational skill in budget, governance and data oversight and demonstrated commitment to DET values;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of vocational education, including apprenticeships and traineeships and demonstrated ability to develop policy and process within an overarching framework, for a multi-site program.

As specified Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022, Attendance (5) (a) (i) An education support class employee will be in attendance for a minimum of 7.6 hours daily (for a full-time employee) between 7am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

Will usually be a member of the leadership team who is accountable for the development and delivery of key services that are integral to the effective operation of a school/s.  Provides a range of services and/or undertakes the analysis of complex problems that form part of the policy framework.

A school or group of schools would need to have the necessary diversity and complexity to create a role at range 5.  Management of a major school or district initiative, project or Department targeted strategy would be an indicator depending on the breadth of management responsibilities.

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.

Role Context

Head Start is a wraparound service provision that powers school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Head Start aims to improve the outcomes, quality assurance and equitable distribution of opportunities for senior secondary and special education students who undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs). Head Start also considers middle school students’ preparedness for success in the SBATs program. The Head Start SBAT program was piloted in over 150 schools from 2019 with strong outcomes. The expansion of the program will ensure access to all Victorian government secondary schools, including special schools, and Flexible Learning Options.

The program will introduce more rigorous SBAT compliance and monitoring across the system supporting the state’s response to the 2020 Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth Review) reform agenda in senior secondary and vocational education. These reforms will collectively support all Victorian secondary students to pursue high-quality and valued vocational pathways aligned to their strengths and interests and to finish schooling with the skills and capabilities they need for success in further education, training, work, and life. The expansion of SBATs will also assist in addressing prioritised skill shortages by providing employers with support and access to school-based apprentices and trainees. The Head Start SBAT program includes flexible delivery of the senior secondary certificate with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy attainment; quality training delivered concurrently with secondary school education; and time on the job to support achievement of competencies.

The option to maximise time in employment has proven to support students’ genuine progression through the apprenticeship or traineeship whilst meeting employer requirements. The program provides students with a clear pathway from school into employment with a qualification.

Role Purpose

The Hub Assistant Director is a senior position that supports the implementation and coordination of the Head Start School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) program. The Hub Assistant Director may engage with up to fifty government secondary and specialist schools, as well as Flexible Learning Options settings that align with one of the twelve program hubs across Victoria.

Reporting directly to the Head Start Hub Director, the Head Start Hub Assistant Director will:

• manage the expansion of Head Start SBATs program across schools within the Hub; offering logistical guidance for school education services such as school timetabling, career counselling and information provision for a successful delivery of the SBATs program;
• administer the programs budget, operational and data requirements according to the department, school and other relevant policies,
• develop and implement key services integral to the effective operation of the Head Start SBATs program across schools within the local Hub;
• undertake analysis of complex problems and provide a range of strategies that respond to the local or state-wide Head Start SBATs program;
• develop and deliver tools to enable students in middle and senior education to consider Head Start SBAT as an opportunity toward a meaningful career path,
• develop and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders including employment, training, further education, apprenticeship providers; community organisations, school principals, business managers, teachers and career practitioners to support the Head Start SBATs program;
• coordinate the delivery of the local Hub professional development opportunities for Head Start staff; and support the Hub team of approximately nine school-based staff to deliver a robust and effective Head Start SBATs program.

Key Accountabilities

• Provides senior leadership and coordination of the School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATS) program powered by Head Start wrap around services to approximately fifty schools within the local Hub;
• Manages the delivery of a range of program support services using a student-centred approach across schools or industry, including coordinating the student workplace matching process;
• Contributes to the expansion of the Head Start SBATs program that forms part of a significant Victorian senior secondary reform package, across the local Hub.
• Develops successful interconnections between the senior secondary reform programs from a Head Start SBATs perspective; and implements collaborative pathway between Head Start and such programs and other departmental initiatives to coexist.
• Analyses evidence-based data and develops policy, practice and protocol to respond to an identified program improvement or risk while acknowledging department, school, and employment policies;  
• Supports the delivery of educational and Head Start SBATs services provided to students alongside the Hub Director
• Administers the Head Start SBATs program governance, budget and data with the guidance of the Hub Director within the framework of each of the Hub school's strategic plan, policies and budget.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key program stakeholders such as students and their support networks, employers, training providers, Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and the local community.
• Supervision of students can be required where it is an integral part of the employee’s position or in circumstances where supervision is required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher. Other duties as directed.

Qualifications

A tertiary qualification that will add value to the context of education, training and skills opportunities for students or extensive experience working in related sectors.

Other Important Information

• An understanding of the school setting, particularly the relationships between middle and senior secondary education with career pathways is desired.
• A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.
• Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces (Note: use of private / own vehicle is required).
• A current driver’s licence.
• This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

Important Information

• 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 https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/safeenviro.aspx?Redirect=1
• Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.
• Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed. Visit http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/vacancies/tips-for-applying for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.
• The Department of Education and Training (DET) is committed to diversity. The Department places considerable effort and resources into responding to the needs of employees with a disability. People from disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply for this position.
• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. 
• Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New DET employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
• If appointed from outside DET, successful applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
• 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
• All DET employees are required to comply with relevant legislation, including legislation regarding the management of Departmental records, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees and Departmental policies and procedures in the conduct of their employment.
• To support DET's commitment to its Environmental Management System, DET employees are expected to act in an environmentally responsible manner at all times

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

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy at Mildura Senior College                 

• Applicants should address the key selection criteria.
• Attaching your letter of introduction, resume and key selection criteria in one document is most helpful.
• Day time phone numbers are vital to make appointments for an interview in the event that you are shortlisted.
• If you have an Employee ID Number, please include it on your application.
• Three (3) Referees are required. Please provide names, contact phone numbers and e-mail addresses (Most recent employer is preferred).
• A copy of your current Employee Working With Children Check will be required if successful.

Salary: $110,310 - $130,114

• 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