Mental Health Practitioner

Corryong College is a P-12 College of approximately 300 students located in the far north-east of Victoria, some 125 kilometers east of Wodonga and within the Shire of Towong.  With a population of 1200 people, Corryong is the main town servicing the Upper Murray region. Whilst the local economy is closely tied to agriculture (beef and dairy cattle), the local hospital and Snowy Hydro Scheme also contributes to the local economic viability.

Tourism is a growing industry as Corryong is nestled in a picturesque valley between the mountains and the Murray River.  Close to snowfields in winter, river and lake sports in summer, excellent freshwater fishing in permanent creeks and with lots to see and do outdoors during the mild spring and autumn months. The Upper Murray offers a healthy and peaceful lifestyle.  A safe and secure place to live and raise a family in a friendly rural community that welcomes newcomers.

The College provides a comprehensive program for students from Years P-12, led by highly dedicated staff  of  teachers and  Education Support.  The College is well-known in the region for its ability to value add to student learning as students move through the College¿s year levels, evidenced in the many years of achieving excellent VCE results. The College focuses on data informed teaching that ensures every student can learn and no student is left behind.

The College provides a high quality education in a safe and secure environment which values motivation, aspiration and achievement.  Teachers work in variety of Professional Learning Teams & Communities focused on student centered points of need, to share best practice with clear learning intentions, explicit teaching and feedback that continuously strive towards a strong learning culture. The FISO (Framework for Improving Student Outcomes) Continua is regularly reviewed by the college community, aligned with analyzed data sets, to ensure whole-school ownership of school improvement. Students have a strong voice and are encouraged to be inquiring, active and independent learners. Moving towards student agency, the College is making steps towards empowering students to have input in their learning direction within the classroom and across the school.

The curriculum is seen as the means by which our students acquire the skills competencies and qualities to become informed and effective participants in society.  It emphasises literacy, numeracy, the ability to work with others, the ability to analyze and assess information, the capacity to adapt to new situations and personal organisation.

Curriculum enhancement activities are many and varied.   Students are encouraged to take an active role in extra-curricular activities.  The opportunities provided by the proximity of national parks and snowfields mean that Outdoor Education features strongly.  Instrumental Music classes are available to all students in Years 5-12. The College has an excellent sports program that features inter-house and interschool competitions. School Captains are elected and take an important leadership role in College affairs. House Captains and Vice-Captains also have important roles to play. 

The College has a strong Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG), ADVANCE (CFA), Hospitality and Indonesian programs play a huge role in our students¿ development as well as strong collaboration with community.

Currently Corryong College has teaching housing available. 

1. Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school Mental Health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student Mental Health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key Mental Health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.
2. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing Mental Health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
3. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of Mental Health needs.
4. Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
5. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand Mental Health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified Mental Health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

• Enhancing Mental Health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student Mental Health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
• Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate Mental Health concerns; and
• Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local Mental Health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

Education support class level 1 range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources

1. Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
2. Delivering professional support services in a school, including Mental Health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of Mental Health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
3. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectlively manage risk.
4. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance Mental Health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
5. Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
6. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, Mental Health nurse or occupational therapist. Specifically:

• For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA

• For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health
• For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
• For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA

• Demonstrated direct counselling experience
• A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
• For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.

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