School Psychologist/Student Counsellor

Albert Park College Profile:

Albert Park College opened in 2011 with a year 7 enrolment capped at 150 students and the new college has been developed as a Year 7-12 college. The College is multi campus and located in a prized inner city location. Incorporating recycled materials, indigenous flora, and natural light and ventilation, our buildings and grounds reflect our communities belief in environmental sustainability.The new buildings feature a 21st century learning environment with open plan classrooms. All staff will be expected to teach in teams in the open plan environment.
As a designated Apple Mac school all staff will be expected to be familiar with the use of Apple computers / devices as an integral part of their teaching and learning. The school offers two streams: general co-educational entry, and a Select Entry Accelerated Learning program that offers places to up to 50 students based on an entrance test and interview.
There are three key themes driving the culture of the new college - a celebration of arts and culture, scientific and mathematical exploration and the development of outstanding leadership capabilities.The school also offers an Accelerated Arts program and is developing an excellent music program with a stage band, concert band and ensembles. 

At Albert Park College we value:

A Positive Culture - we are positive and open and encourage a can do attitude - we celebrate a diverse range of skills and achievements - we display leadership

Community - we respect, support and nurture those around us - we are fair, consistent and clear

Knowledge - we are open to new methods of teaching and learning - we extend and challenge students to be the best they can at academic, sporting and artistic pursuits/subjects - we promote a culture of excellence

Environment - we foster an open, rich, dynamic and creative learning environment that teaches skills for the future - we care for environmental sustainability

Partnership - we are actively engaged in a partnership of learning that includes students, teachers, parents and the wider community to maximise the impact of learning
 
Families of The New Albert Park College have high expectations and we are driven by our commitment to deliver the best possible outcomes for the students of our community.

1. Qualification in social work, student/family counselling, psychology or a relevant community health or welfare field.
2. Understanding the common approaches, policies, programs and research relating to student wellbeing.
3. Experience in the delivery of student and family wellbeing services in a secondary school setting.
4. Demonstrated experience in the coordination of services and provision of information, support, consultation and the ability to work with groups or individual students.
5. Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and network with the range of people within education and the wider community.
6. Demonstrated ability to design, deliver or coordinate professional development in the area of student, family or youth wellbeing.

• It is important that the School Psychologist/Student Counsellor possesses the skills and knowledge of human development including psychological, social, emotional, learning and cultural needs. Also be able to work with young people who may exhibit challenging behaviours.
• Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.
• Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy.  Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
• This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years.  Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered.  Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
• An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor.  Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee's position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

• Manage the design and production of school publications and documents.
• Provide professional student support services, e.g. therapist and psychological and counselling services.
• Implement student wellbeing programs that foster resilience and address the social, emotional and educational needs of students
• Provide strategic advice on specific support services and their impact on students, school curriculum and services.
• Liaise with families and third-party providers to make referrals and develop support plans for students.

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

The Department of Education and Training 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.

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

• 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