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Form of workDiamond Valley College is a mid-sized secondary school that lies on the northern urban fringe of Melbourne. As such, it caters for students that live in the suburban areas of Diamond Creek, Hurstbridge and Doreen and those that live in smaller rural communities including Kinglake, St Andrews, Panton Hill, Wattle Glen, Kangaroo Ground, Arthurs Creek and Strathewen. This brings a unique diversity to the college, which is not comparable to neighboring secondary schools and one that is valued by our community of students, staff and families. We continuously work together to ensure that the college values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence are upheld in all that we do.
The College is undergoing continuous transformation with an upgrade of facilities planned over the coming years. Funding of $2 million granted in 2016 saw the development of a master plan, identifying key areas for improvement and how it could be prioritised to maximise benefits for teaching and learning. Stage one of the redevelopment was completed mid 2018 with the opening of the Performing Arts Centre, highlighting new music facilities and a 150-seat theatre. The Resource Centre was also upgraded to include a redesigned Library, general-purpose classrooms and maker space. With a further commitment of $4.9 million, the college has undergone the stage 2 of its redevelopment, with the completion of a new Science Centre and upgrades to student amenities and areas of the Technology Centre.
With a current enrolment of 840 the college has the capacity to provide a broad range of curriculum options and supports the pathway goals of all; yet small enough to provide the pastoral care that our students and families seek. We are currently entering a period of the growth with an increase in year 7 enrolments since 2018, stabilising at approximately 175 students in 2021 and 2022 This allows for the growth and development of programs to support the learning opportunities for students, The College has made a commitment to strengthening relationships through a whole school commitment to the Berry Street Education Model.
Diamond Valley College retains a strong connection with its local community, and works with them and local primary schools to ensure that the needs of our students and the communities they come from are met. The College offers a number of specialist programs: a High Achievers program that is attracting stronger enrolments and a Sports Academy established in 2018, which extended to year 10 in 2020 and is now inclusive of AFL, netball, basketball and tennis, along with a support program for elite gymnasts.
A broad and inclusive curriculum is offered to Years 7 to 9 students, with an emphasis on increasing student agency as a focus in more recent AIP's and staff Performance and Development plans. The Senior Sub School provides an extensive VCE program, a well-established VCAL and opportunities for varied VET options offered by the Northern VET Cluster. A comprehensive extra-curricular program that includes leadership, sport, music public engagement, camps and overseas travel supports this.
Since 2017, a focus has been on the refinement of the DVC teaching model and consistent teaching practice. With an emphasis on regular peer observation and learning walks, a focus has been on clear learning intentions, identified success criterion and the identification of high impact teaching strategies to improve student-learning outcomes.
- Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of Mental Health issues.
- Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.
- Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to Mental Health and wellbeing.
- Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
- Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.
- Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative provides for a suitably qualified Mental Health professional in all government secondary school campuses.
Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:
- provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate Mental Health needs;
- coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required; and
- enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed Mental Health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.
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:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/rolesTS.aspx
1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of Mental Health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.
3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
4. Provide leadership and professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ learning and developmental outcomes.
5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.
Please note:
• The relevant enterprise agreement underpinning this position is the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2017.
• Continued professional learning 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:
- hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in:
- Social Work
- Occupational Therapy
- Nursing with a Mental Health specialisation
- Psychology.
- have demonstrated direct counselling experience.
- have a current Working With Children Check.
For Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist and Occupational Therapists, applicants must hold full registration with the requisite professional body.
For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Desirable
- For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
- For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
- For Occupational Therapist applicants, hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.
- For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. 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
Please ensure that your application includes:
- a resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
- a section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
- names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees
Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.
This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.
