AddressBroadmeadows Special Developmental School provides educational programs for primary and secondary school-aged students with a moderate to severe intellectual disability who may also have sensory, physical impairments and autism spectrum disorder.
The school is a modern purpose-built facility located in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows and provides an attractive and safe environment. Learning areas include well-equipped classrooms, dedicated specialist spaces and outdoor learning zones. The school has 2 sites, the main campus in Dimboola Rd and a Sorrento Street campus with students attending from a wide geographical and diverse socio-economic background.
The school has a current enrolment of 340 students. Students attend school daily from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Eligible school-aged students living within the designated transport zone have access to free transport to and from school.
Curriculum
Programs are delivered within Department of Education guidelines and reflect the Victorian Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on the development of programs that address individual student needs, through Individual Learning Plans. Educational goals and priorities are reviewed every six months. Class groups are comprised of 6-8 students, with a teacher and teacher assistant, to ensure a safe and effective learning environment, where individuals are respected and self-esteem and dignity are strongly advocated. The school has a trans-disciplinary approach to student learning with input from educators, therapists and parents. Teachers case conference students with their allocated Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist each week.
Our school philosophy is reflected in its programs and based on the belief that children learn best in a co-operative environment that is happy, challenging, supportive and non-threatening. Broadmeadows SDS has a School Wide Positive Behaviour Program and has developed a school culture that is reflected by the ideals of positive behaviour support.
An emphasis is placed on students attaining skills and knowledge that they will use as young adults when graduating at 18 years of age.
Staffing
The school is staffed with classroom teachers, specialist teachers, literacy specialists, teacher assistants, occupational therapists, speech therapists and physiotherapists. The school accesses additional support through the Visiting Teacher Services for Hearing and Vision Impairment and a Guidance Officer. Current staffing includes over 150 staff including a team of 30 plus therapists.
Successful applicants may be required to work at either the Dimboola Campus or the Sorrento Campus which are within a short walk of each other.
SC1 Highly developed communication skills, both written and verbal to work with other members of the Therapy Services team, teachers, education support staff, parents and carers including the capacity to use the school's reporting procedures.
SC2 Demonstrated commitment to provide appropriate assessment, treatment and management of students with moderate to mild intellectual disabilities as well as a wide range of physical disabilities.
SC3 Demonstrated ability to work as part of the Therapy Services team in providing assessment and treatment, setting goals, establishing programs and reviewing progress of students.
SC4 Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and the capacity to reflect critically upon professional practice relevant to specialist schools.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to employ positive interpersonal skills with students, colleagues, parents and the wider school community
To provide physiotherapy services to individual children with disabilities within the environment of Broadmeadows Special Developmental School and to support the staff and families in providing the best possible educational/therapeutic outcomes for each student.
Work as a team member with the teaching and therapy staff and implement a trans disciplinary approach to service delivery for children / students and their families
To conduct appropriate assessments of students and management of students physical developmental skills.
To provide written and verbal feedback/reports on assessments of students including those required as documentation for new applications for the Program for Students with Disabilities.
To work collaboratively with teaching staff and parents to develop appropriate goals for positioning mobility and gross motor activities, which respect individual styles and acknowledge strengths and capabilities.To access and prescribe equipment as appropriate for use at school, home and in the community and to source and apply for funding support as required.
To provide group and individual physiotherapy programs within the school environment as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
To work collaboratively with other professionals including therapists and teaching staff within the multi-disciplinary team.
To liase with service providers, welfare agencies and other relevant professionals as required for ongoing management of student referral.
To attend staff and therapy team meetings etc as required.
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfil the specific requirements of the position.
Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) as a Physiotherapist
Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy)/ Bachelor of Physiotherapy or recognised equivalent qualification.
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 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
Applicants must address the Key Selection Criteria with no more than 5 pages and must list 3 professional referees with their mobile numbers.
Applicants must have a current Victorian Working with Children Check.
- 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
