AddressWoodmans Hill Secondary College is a vibrant, supportive and aspirational learning community, committed to learning from and with each other in order to ensure that all students grow.
Woodmans Hill Secondary College is a school that sits at the heart of its community, situated at the Eastern entrance to Ballarat, in the suburb of Ballarat East and on the Melbourne side, with newly developed facilities on a spacious site with a newly developed Science, Technology, Art and Performing Arts facilities.
At Woodmans Hill Secondary College, we pride ourselves on being a learning culture that knows each child and holds high aspirations for what they can achieve when we work together with our community.
We are committed to providing exciting learning experiences that are aimed at meeting each student at his or her academic, social and emotional point of need. Ours is a school that focuses on developing the whole child and seeks to provide a range of opportunities, both in and outside the classroom, for each student to unlock his or her potential. Our values are Respect, Determination and Excellence, and we expect and encourage the demonstration of these values everyday.
We are a school that invests time and resources into our staff to increase their capacity so that they can develop and improve their skills and knowledge as teachers. We are research and data driven, constantly focusing on how we can increase our pedagogical knowledge to achieve improved outcomes for our students.
Our Leadership Team for 2024 comprises of 1 Principal, 2 Assistant Principals, and 5 Learning Specialists (Literacy, Numeracy, Junior Years and Senior Years). Currently, our teaching team consists of 62 teaching staff and 31 ES staff (admin, maintenance, learning support, and Business Manager) who cater for the needs of 575 students from year 7 ¿ 12.
KSC1 - Well-developed 1-1 and small group counselling/therapeutic skills, when working with secondary age students experiencing Mental Health and wellbeing concerns.
KSC2- Demonstrated ability to understand, empathise with and support students in a variety of challenging personal situations, through a good understanding of trauma and child and adolescent development.
KSC3 - Demonstrated knowledge and skills in conducting risk assessments, including assessment of Mental Health risk, developing safety plans to mitigate risks, and providing follow up support and referral for treatment as indicated.
KSC4- Knowledge, skills, and experience in the application of evidence based Mental Health and wellbeing practices and processes appropriate to working with young people and families experiencing Mental Health, wellbeing and welfare related issues.
KSC5- Demonstrated ability to engage and assess young people and their family, to determine their wellbeing needs and assist them to access necessary supports and services.
KSC6- Demonstrated capacity to liaise, collaborate and develop positive partnerships with agencies and community services to improve outcomes for students
KSC7- Experience in the development and delivery of proactive programs to develop optimism, resilience, regulation, coping, Health and wellbeing and interpersonal skills in adolescents.
KSC8- Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to maintain comprehensive confidential case notes.
The successful applicant will work as a member of the college¿s Student Advocacy and Mental Health Services Team - to provide both preventative and targeted wellbeing support for students, via therapeutic intervention and case-coordination. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer will be responsible to the Principal through the Assistant Principal (Wellbeing Leader), and the Student Advocacy and Mental Health Services Team Leader. In addition, they will liaise with Sub School Leaders, Year Level Coordinators and Teaching Staff to assist with the Colleges¿ response to the wellbeing needs of students and their families.
- Provide professional student support services, e.g. therapeutic, psychological and counselling services.
- The Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer will be responsible for supporting students who are identified by the Student Advocacy and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) Team as requiring support from Tier two or Tier three interventions. They will work under the direction of the SAMHS Team Coordinator and Wellbeing Assistant Principal to:
- Develop, coordinate and provide small group tier two interventions to support student Mental Health and overall wellbeing
- Assist in the day-to-day intake and support processes within the Wellbeing Hub, including but not limited to, following up sub school concerns for students, completing intake or brief intervention, supporting students accessing the Wellbeing Hub for regulation or wellbeing breaks, completing risk assessments.
- Act as an initial contact person for staff and students accessing the Wellbeing Hub, by creating a friendly and welcoming space.
- Provide support to individual students to provide counselling, implement Mental Health support plans, Mental Health safety plans or any other intervention recommended by the SAMHS Coordinator and Leadership Team.
- Work in close association with the Principals, Sub-school Leaders, Student Advocacy and Mental Health Support Team, Teachers and external agencies in the development and implementation of the policies and practices that support student success, engagement and wellbeing.
- To engage in professional learning to increase knowledge of student Mental Health and wellbeing and maintain best practise standards.
- Support the SAMHS Team by providing Intake and Assessment to students at Woodmans Hill Secondary College. Including risk assessment, safety planning and risk management.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders involved in the provision of health, Mental Health, and psychosocial services to young people.
- Maintain records, case notes and ensure that student information is kept up to date in accordance with policy and guidelines.
- Assist families to access appropriate relief agencies. e.g. State School Relief, Smith Family.
- Develop and assist in delivering pro-active classroom and extra curricula programs that improve student resilience and wellbeing.
- Facilitate Mental Health Prevention and Promotion activities, events and groups that improve student resilience, wellbeing, connection and engagement.
- Provide information and advice to parents and students upon request, including referral to DET Student Support Services, other Government agencies and alternative education/training/employment programs.
- Participate in an annual Performance and Development process.
- Supporting the school to create clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention.
- Make linkages and build relationships and referral pathways to maintain or create a range of local supports for young people and their families.
- Proactively work with and support regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and other external agencies to coordinate targeted Mental Health support for students.
- Provide support services for students on an individual basis, including liaison with parents regarding wellbeing, welfare Mental Health and academic progress concerns.
- Respond to crisis situations as they arise, implementing timely and appropriate support for students, families and staff.
- Support whole school events and school-wide awareness days, and groups targeting support and inclusion of specific students.
- Assist in the Coordination and co-facilitation the schools PRIDE Group for LGBTQIA+ students and allies.
- Creation/support creation of safety plans, student support plans and contribute to (Individual Education Plans) IEPs and (Behaviour Support Plans) BSPs.
- Attend and contribute to SSGs, case management & Sub school meetings, assisting to identify students at risk or facing difficulties with Mental Health, resilience, behaviour, engagement and attendance and developing inventions and strategies.
A bachelor's level qualification or above qualification in a relevant field of study such as: Youth Work, Social Work, Counselling, Psychology or community Health and Welfare field is required.
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
- 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
