Mental Health Practitioner Up To 22.8 Hours Per Week

Swan Hill College is located 350 kilometres north west of Melbourne on the Murray River and is situated within the CBD of the rural city of Swan Hill. In 2024 725 students are enrolled at the College supported by in excess of 100 teaching and non teaching staff.  There is an equal gender balance and the catchment area includes township primary schools, local private schools and outlying primary schools some of which are 60 kilometres or further from the College. A comprehensive bus system services the College and other schools in the township. Some of our students travel for over 2 hours every day to gain access to the College.

The College has continued to work on facilities development to a point where it now boasts some of the best facilities in the State.  A 250 seat theatre, modern technology facilities, outstanding library and extensive sporting arenas including stadium are but a few examples. Swan Hill College continues its focus on information technology the recent additional of the technology hub which includes VR, 3D printers and green screen.

The College Leadership Team comprises of the Principal, two Assistant Principals, the Business Manager and seven Leading Teachers with specific portfolios.

The college has made a real commitment by improving literacy by introducing an intervention program and a reading program at Year 7 and 8. Similarly, our numeracy programs include, scaffolding numeracy early years, a focus on problem solving and a recent introduction of the online Maths Pathways program. With the focus in these areas being the individual student growth.

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is well embedded across the college. At Swan Hill College we work together to achieve excellence and have high expectations of behaviour to create an environment which promotes individual academic and social growth. A clear set of behavioural expectations are developed around the school values of Respect, Responsibility, High Expectations and Belonging.

The College has a well developed and highly effective student wellbeing structure.  The Student Wellbeing Team includes three counsellors, a chaplain and a College nurse. Network support staff also support this team. Doctor in Schools commenced in 2018. The two sub-schools, Junior and Senior, allows for strong links and support with students and families and also a healthy team spirit about the school. A team of College Captains, Junior Captains, House Captains and PBS leaders, also supports the student body.

The College has a Flexible Learning Options (FLO) campus.  This program offers flexible learning opportunities for students who are disengaged or challenged by structured learning.  The program is very successful and had given many students the chance to continue their education.

The College provides a very broad curriculum and an array of additional programs. At the senior level students choose from both the VCE and VM programs and a large number integrate Certificate level studies from our extensive VET offerings.  At the Middle School a wide range of electives are offered with both an engagement and career pathway focus.  Junior School students undertake a standard curriculum with a focus on General Studies and Maths /Science. The College offers an extensive Sport and Recreation program. The Performing Arts continue to grow utilising our state of the art Harrison Theatre, with students studying Dance, Drama and Music.

At Swan Hill College, we have a focus on the continued development of our teaching through the implementation of our Professional Learning Community. Our work is guided by the high impact teaching strategies and the inquiry cycle with a current focus on questioning and the high reliability literacy teaching procedures.

Our College enjoys considerable parent and community support in our vibrant rural setting.

Student engagement, aspirations and welfare are the key focus for the College and wider community. The College is an accredited performance and development culture school and professional development will be targeted to address these priorities.

The College¿s Annual Implementation and Strategic Plans are available on our website www.shc.vic.edu.au 

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.

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

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 who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.

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 position is up to 22.6 hours per week, days and hours to be negotiated with the successful applicant