Learning Support

Rutherglen High School is situated in Northeast Victoria servicing the townships of Chiltern, Rutherglen, Springhurst and Wahgunyah and the surrounding farming communities. The February enrolment in 2023 was 310. Approximately 59% of students travel by bus and a small but increasing percentage of students live over the border in NSW.

The school provides a challenging and balanced comprehensive curriculum with flexibility to meet the needs of each student. All students are able to participate in an environment which values and respects their achievements. Students are expected to display a commitment to improvement of skills and knowledge, develop self-discipline and initiative and respect themselves, each other, the staff and their environment.

Rutherglen High School employs 2 Principal class officers, 28 teaching staff as well as several Instrumental Music Teachers and 12 Educational Support staff with a number of these being employed on a part-time basis.

Students in Years 7 and 8 study a core curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum. This involves courses of study in the Arts, English, French, Mathematics, Health & Physical Education, Science, Humanities and Technology.  Year 9 students are able to select from a range of electives and also participate in the Future Makers program as well as experiential learning through school and community based projects. In Years 10 ¿ 12 student can select from a range of VCE units, VCE Vocational Major and the Victorian Pathways Certificate, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SBATS).  An Applied Learning program operates at Year 10 for students with a vocational pathway in mind.

The school provides a wide range of extracurricular and enrichment programs including: excursions, inter school sport, debating, public speaking, annual musical production, instrumental music, VCE workshops and lunchtime activities. The school also operates a variety of year level camps based around a specific theme or skill set.  These activities foster the qualities of leadership, initiative, independence, self-confidence, self-esteem, problem solving, decision making, resilience, team work and social skills.

The school is located on 13.95 hectares of land and provides an attractive and stimulating environment for students and community use. There are excellent outdoor sporting facilities on site including the Rutherglen High School Community Centre. The school is close to all other sporting facilities in the town, including the Shire swimming pool, and enjoys close cooperation from all sporting bodies. Students in the school have an outstanding record in interschool sport.

School Council is committed to continually upgrading the buildings and grounds. A particular emphasis is placed on upgrading resources to keep abreast with changing technology. A very successful BYOD program operates with over 90% of students participating. In 2012 $1.6 million was expended through the Trade Training Centre program to upgrade the food, wood and metal facilities and support teaching of VET subjects. The $1.6 million STEM centre was completed in October 2018. It features teaching spaces which can be quickly re-configured to support a variety of group sizes and teaching and learning approaches.

There is a very effective welfare and student management policy in place, supported by year level co-ordinators and a Student Welfare Co-ordinator. The school also has the services of a School Nurse and a doctor through the Doctors in Schools initiative. A Careers Advisor is available to help students make appropriate choices in school and beyond. School Captains, House Captains and the Student Representative Council foster student participation and responsibility.

Parental involvement is welcomed and high value is placed on the home school partnership. The school encourages and enjoys strong links with the community.  Rutherglen High School is a vital and active educational institution. It provides a caring, orderly, and disciplined environment in which learning can flourish and be enjoyed.

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.

[Attendance requirement for this position]

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.

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

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).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@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:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department'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 department values is available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

• 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