Place Based Partnership To Support School Engagement

Collingwood College is a government P-12 school established in 1882. It is located in the inner-city suburb of Collingwood, close to Melbourne’s CBD. Collingwood College is a culturally diverse school with an enrolment of 850 students. The school operates a registered International Student Program that can cater for up to 80 students from a range of countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea.

It is a warm and welcoming school with a strong commitment to partnerships with parents and the wider community. The academic, social, emotional and physical development of each child lies at the heart of the educational process. Staff, students and families are committed to working inclusively through open and effective communication and in partnership in the context of a rigorous, educational curriculum with high expectations.

The main campus is arranged with two sub-schools; Primary and Secondary. Each sub-school is arranged to create the most appropriate setting and approach for children at the different stages of their development.

At the senior level, the choice of subjects available is increased by a co-operative arrangement with Fitzroy High School and joint provision of a very comprehensive range of senior programs, including VCE, VET and VCAL at our new campus Wurun Senior Secondary. 

Background

As part of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan, education is identified as a key focus area and funding is available to employ School Community Liaison Officers in school communities with high populations of African young people to improve their connection to education and provide tailored support.

The School Community Liaison Officer at Collingwood College will support your school community with high populations of African young people to increase School Engagement, strengthen partnerships with families and community and facilitate activities to increase retention and school completion.

This role will be one of eight School Community Liaison Officers appointed to school communities with high populations of African young people across the State and supported by a Senior Program Officer appointed by the Department of Education Training (DET) and operating from the DET central office in Melbourne.

1. Experience working with school communities, families and community organisations involving individuals of culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds.
2. Excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills including the ability to partner with and broker support from local community organisations
3. Ability to build strong working relationships with parents and local community organisations to identify best practice and areas for improvement to Support student and parent engagement.
4. Excellent time management and organisational skills
5. Ability to work as part of a statewide team and embrace a community of practice approach

The School Community Liaison Officer will be required to Support School communities to focus on increasing School Engagement, strengthening partnerships with families and community and facilitating activities to increase retention and school completion.

The School Community Liaison Officer will be expected to work in collaboration with School Community Liaison Officers appointed to other schools across the North West, South West and South East Victorian regions through membership of an established community of practice. The School Community Liaison Officers will be supported by a centrally based program officer and provide regular reports to Support the implementation, evaluation and ongoing monitoring of the project.There is an expectation that this role will require travel to other sites of delivery and to the DET Central Office in Melbourne CBD.

1. Provide support to school communities they are working with to establish and maintain communication between young people, families and the local community
2. Work directly with groups of young people or individuals, planning interventions to ensure young people are connected to an education
3. Work directly with young people to provide platforms for student voice, facilitate leadership opportunities and facilitate activities that aligns with their needs
4. Facilitate information sessions for parents to Support an increased understanding of the education system and platforms and increase engagement with parent teacher nights, information days and school celebrations
5. Facilitate professional learning for school staff on cultural responsiveness and safety coordinate workshops and forums for the school and local community
6. Facilitate access to homework clubs and afterschool programs, to offer support and mentoring outside of the school
7. Support school leaders with the rollout of the cultural competency framework and other activities aimed at strengthening inclusivity for diverse communities
8. Participate in a statewide community of practices and statewide planning days with other School Community Liaison Officers

• Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfil the specific requirements of the position.
• This role is identified as available for African heritage applicants only.
• Confirmation of your African heritage may be requested.

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).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 *** or email on: **********@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 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

The successful candidate will be required to work some hours during the school holidays. Regular work hours will be 9:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays.  This may be negotiated as appropriate.

The successful candidate will be eligible to claim time in lieu (TIL) where they are required to work in excess of their normal hours of duty.