School Counsellor

Lalor Secondary College is a co-education school for students in Years 7 to 12. The school has provided the communities of Lalor, Thomastown and Epping with educational opportunities that prepare our students for their chosen pathway – be it tertiary study, trade or workforce.  Our mission is to provide opportunities in a caring and supportive learning environment so that our students improve their capacity to become socially responsible, caring and confident contributors to the 21st century.

Due to the high demand in our local community, in 2016, the school will continue to have a ceiling at Year 7 for 170 to 180 students. The school’s student population ranges from 1000 to 1050 students The school’s core values of Pride, Achievement, Caring, Cooperation and Honesty are embedded in our wellbeing and teaching practices, as well as our Student Code of Behaviour. High expectations and well developed policy and practices ensure a calm teaching environment that allows the focus of the classroom to be centred around the teaching and learning.  The high expectations are driven by a student culture where students motivate and inspire each other to achieve excellence in the academic field, applied learning field or through the extra-curricular program.

The extra-curricular program is supported by both student and staff led clubs. Some of these include the Science and Maths clubs, Macedonian Folk Dancing Club, Art Club, Anime Club, Walking Club, Mindfullness Club, Breakfast Club, Horticulture Club, Sports Program, House Program, Music Program, Year 12 Mentor Program and Chess Club.  This also includes a unique partnership with ABCN that provides numerous leadership opportunities to our students that supports the student leadership structures of the College.  The school has an established and dedicated Wellbeing Team that delivers a coordinated approach to the Student Wellbeing Programs that have been embedded into the school curriculum and culture.  Some of these programs include ‘Yoga Thursdays’, Peer Support, After School Homework Club, Animal Assisted Therapy and the Pre-Orientation Program. The College also offers distinctive educational programs such as the Years 7 to 10 differentiated Maths program, Years 7 to 9 Literacy Support Program, High Potential Learning Program, Years 7 to 12 language program offering Macedonian, Greek, Italian and French and an extensive elective program in Years 9 and 10.

Our school community acknowledges the ability and the right of all students to learn and to experience success in the classroom. The College delivers a rigorous and comprehensive educational program built around the Victorian Curriculum in Years 7 to 10, where a challenging and diverse curriculum caters for a variety of learning styles.  The varying talents of students at years 7 to 10 are recognised and celebrated and excellence and effort are rewarded throughout the College at regular intervals throughout the year.  The program offered at Years 11 and 12 provides opportunities for students to excel in VCE, VCAL and VET, which is long established through results that are above state average.  The school has a strong pathways program that ensures a high retention from Year 7 to Year 12 and assures all students in Years 9 to 12 receive counselling in choices of study and focuses on providing an individual pathway for every child.

Our most recent building upgrades include a new Science Centre which promotes an open learning environment with the focus on independent and inquiry learning for our junior students, a new senior study centre for Year 12 students and a new administration area offering a formal environment for our administration services to function.

Information about the school, its ethos, programs and the Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan can be obtained at our website – www.lalorsc.vic.edu.au

1. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.
2. Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.
3. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.
4. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
5. 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.
6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

The School Counsellor is a member of the Wellbeing Team and responsible to the Student Well Being Leader.  The School Counsellor contributes to the development and maintenance of a collaborative school community which is responsive to the academic, emotional and social needs of its members. The School Counsellor will work collaboratively with members of the Wellbeing Team, school leadership and staff to support individual students and the student body as a whole.

• Provide counselling to a group of students (case load) about academic, personal, and social needs
• Refer students and their families to outside agencies for advice and information
• Work with Student Managers and classroom teachers to facilitate conflict resolution
• Support students in special settings and their transition to Lalor Secondary College
• Provide special programs for groups of students
• Contribute to the development and delivery of whole school and year level programs as required
• Liaise with relevant staff regarding special needs for students
• Work collaboratively with visiting and occasional welfare staff and agencies
• Use a range of strategies and interventions to work with young people
• Assess and report appropriately to ensure suitable intervention
• Foster effective communication with students, staff, families and community
• Display ethical behaviour and responsibility, including respecting confidentiality in accordance with APS guidelines
• Provide professional advice and support to the Principal and school community through the development of programs, procedures and policies with a focus on the wellbeing of students, particularly those at risk
• Develop and implement a range of programs for students and the school community that foster resiliency and respond to identify social, emotional and educational needs
• Provide professional development for the school community with a focus on primary prevention strategies and skills to assist, identify, monitor and manage the referral of students at risk
• Undertake counselling and support as required
• Manage a case load of students
• Establish links with relevant community support agencies and school networks with a view to optimising services available for students at risk that focus on primary prevention, early intervention and continuity of care
• Work collaboratively with the Student Wellbeing Team
• Undertake professional development
• Attend all team and school meetings
• Other duties as required by the Principal class

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

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

Advice to Applicants

Written Applications

Applicants are free to structure applications in any manner they choose, but must ensure that the following are included:

• A specific response to all of the Key Selection Criteria and position details.  It is suggested that applicants limit their response to no more than 1 page (size 11) per criterion.
• A cover letter providing contact information including home address, email and phone number as well as the phone number of the work address at which the applicant can be contacted.
• A CV with a summary of experience and qualifications. Applicants must have an appropriate qualification for this position.
• The names, email addresses and contact details of three referees who can provide information regarding the applicant in relation to the Key Selection Criteria.

Please note: The selection panel may contact referees other than those listed.

The Selection Process will involve at least the following steps:

1. Receipt of application by closing date
2. Shortlisting of applications
3. Interview process (applicants may be invited back for a second interview)
4. Referee checks (these may occur prior and/or after the interviews)

Note: The panel reserves the right to contact others outside of the list of referees provided by the applicant.  On making a decision to appoint, a job offer will be made to the successful applicant.

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.