Senior School Student Support And Administration

Thornbury High School Profile Summary 2024

At Thornbury High School, we are proud of what we do every day to champion innovation, inclusiveness, and academic excellence. Through our extensive academic and extra-curricular programs, we aim to foster and inspire a new generation of respectful and resilient young people ready to face a rapidly changing world.

In 2024, the school¿s enrolment is approximately 1100 students. The school has four Principal class, 70 equivalent full-time teachers and 35 Educational Support Staff working together to achieve the school¿s vision, the central tenets of which are:

¿           high academic expectations and standards

¿           a safe and secure learning environment

¿           a wide range of opportunities for students to pursue individual and collective aspirations

A recent highlight was winning `The Age¿ Schools that Excel Award for sustained improvement in VCE results. In 2023 the VCE median study score again reached 31, with 8.1% of students achieving study scores of 40 and above.

Our results in finding post-school pathways for senior students remain above the state median.  The school continues to implement key teaching and learning strategies with a strong literacy and numeracy underpinning through our reinvigorated professional learning program.

Thornbury High¿s many strengths include our instrumental music program that includes free instrumental music tuition to all year seven and eight students as part of the performing arts curriculum, the recently expanded Sports Academy program and our Italian language immersion program.

The school has redeveloped its facilities recently completing stage two of our masterplan; a $14.9 million STEAM Centre. Our stage one Performing Arts and Sports Centre completed in 2020 has added to the vibrant teaching and learning program in those areas.

Thornbury High School values diversity in all its forms and models this in our day-to-day practices. The benefits of this are evident in the deep pride and sense of belonging within our school community. The school also conducts its own student-led annual bullying survey which has contributed to the development of a very safe and secure learning environment at the school. 

For further information, visit the school¿s website at http://www.thornburyhs.vic.edu.au/ which includes links to our community Facebook page.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands, the Wurundjeri People and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy at Thornbury High School.

Please note the following:               

-       Applicants are required to provide a statement addressing the key selection criteria.

-       Attaching your letter of introduction, resume and key selection criteria in one document, with your full name in the File Name, is most helpful.

-       Please include your DET Employee ID Number on your application (where applicable).

-       Three (3) Referees are required. Please provide names, contact phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

-       A copy of your current WWCC/VIT card will be required if successful.

1. High level capacity to perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice and school/DET policy and the personal attributes required to do this work with limited supervision and guidance. 
2. Outstanding administration, organisational and resource management skills and proficiency in using office systems and relevant software. 
3. Demonstrated high level oral and written communication skills.
4. Demonstrated capacity to work cooperatively with a range of people including teachers, education support, students and parents. To include a commitment to actively contribute to the broader school programs.
5. An ongoing commitment to professional learning and growth.

Are you looking for a job that has more than one dimension? 

Would you feel equally comfortable managing a complex spreadsheet and a room of young adults?

In this varied and stimulating position you will be both the study room supervisor and the administrative powerhouse for the Senior School. You will play a crucial role in our Y11&12 team (alongside the Manager, Coordinators, Careers & Pathways Advisors and Academic Mentor) and help to shape a warm, professional and efficient learning environment for our students. 

Daily responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Supervision of the Senior Study Room

• Active supervision of five study periods per day, each of 20-40 Y12 VCE students
• Administration and supervision of ‘catch up’ coursework and exams
• Oversight of the Senior School environment and facilities

Monitoring of Student Attendance & Punctuality

• Monitoring student attendance using the Compass school management system
• Signing-in students who arrive late to school
• Contacting families of students who are absent from school

Administration of Student Records and VASS

• Maintenance of internal school records for our Y11 and 12 students
• Entry and maintenance of VCE and VCAL data using VASS (Victorian Assessment Software System)
• Working with teachers and Senior School Manager to ensure all data deadlines are met
• Senior school office management

Appropriate candidates will:

• Relish the opportunity to work with young adults every day. As the queen/king of the study room, you’ll develop expert student management techniques, winning their respect and protecting the calm, purposeful atmosphere. You’ll love building relationships with them and helping them to achieve their goals. 
• Have an aptitude for data and great attention to detail. There are 330 students in the Senior School and you’ll be keeping track of all of them. Previous experience working with spreadsheets is essential. Experience with Compass and VASS is preferable however, on the job training will be provided
• Looking for variety, with a passion for helping others.The school day is intense and during this time you’ll almost always have twenty students in front of you and five tabs open. However, you will rarely be expected to complete work outside the scheduled hours, school holidays are a bonus and so the job is compatible with a positive work-life balance and other commitments.

Attendance may be required up to 6 days during school holidays. 

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.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3.  Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility.  Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases.  Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

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.

• Ensure the provision of a range of administrative support functions for the Principal and teaching staff.
• Provide administrative support to external service providers as required.
• Manage the processing of student admissions, registrations, enrolments and transfers.
• Provide required level of administrative support for school events, functions and projects.
• Implement induction programs for new staff, volunteers and other workers to the school.

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

• 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

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.