Social Worker / Youth Worker

Kyneton High School is a single campus Year 7-12 school that offers an inclusive, co-educational learning environment based on the values of Respect, Diversity, Excellence and Sustainability.  Our school vision is to build a safe, caring, stimulating and sustainable learning community where students can thrive and become confident, responsible adults with the skills and knowledge to enable success in a rapidly changing world.  We strive to create a learning environment that promotes student voice, agency and leadership, and inspires students to achieve their full potential. 

At Kyneton High School we are a proud public school that is open to learners from all backgrounds; our commitment is that all students will be given access to an education that fosters excellence and challenges them to achieve their best learning growth.  We welcome members of our school community with the assurance that they will be treated with respect and dignity, understanding that it is through partnership that we can best support our students to improve their learning and wellbeing outcomes. 

Kyneton High School is located in the township of Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges, 84kms north-west of Melbourne, and has a proud history of over 100 years.  Most students travel to school by bus from the surrounding district and townships in the Macedon Ranges.  Since 2019 there has been a significant program of capital works which has seen a substantial improvement in facilities.  The commencement of further building works in 2022 resulted in completion of a new building in late 2023, providing facilities for Art, Science and Food Technology, as well as new general-purpose classrooms for the Middle Years.  These works also delivered refurbished Music, Drama and Wellbeing spaces. 

Our school provides access to a wide range of learning and career pathways.  Not only do we offer the Victorian Curriculum for Years 7-10, and a comprehensive VCE (including Vocational Major) and VET programs; we also provide flexibility in our approach to course design, catering for the individual needs of our students.  We achieve excellent exit destination results with most students having positive pathways to either University, TAFE, apprenticeships or employment.  Our current enrolment is 610 students and the overall socio-economic profile, based on the Student Family Occupation and Education Index which takes parents¿ occupation and education into account, places the school in the low-medium range.  The staffing profile is made up of 1 Executive Principal, 1 Assistant Principal, 2 Leading Teachers, 3 Learning Specialists, 52 teachers, 23 educational support staff and a Business Manager. (a total of 49.8FTE teaching staff and 14.1 FTE education support staff).

SC1  Experience in implementing evidence-based interventions and strategies to support young people with mental health issues and those with a neurodiverse profile.

SC2  Demonstrated skills and experience in supporting young people from diverse backgrounds including those who identify as First Nations, LGBTQIA+ community, and twice exceptional learners.

SC3  Demonstrated ability to assess student need and to develop case plans and appropriate interventions for young people in an individual or group arrangement.

SC4  Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with families, staff and other professionals to improve the attendance of students and engagement in learning.

SC5  Display capacity building techniques and best practice to support staff to understand and cater for the complex needs of young people including those from a trauma background and those with behavioural difficulties.

SC6  Knowledge of privacy and relevant legislation that protects the rights of young people and how this impacts practice  

Youth/Social Worker will provide high quality advice and support to students, staff and families.  They will support and comply with DET and Kyneton High School¿s procedures and policies in order to best support the wellbeing and inclusion of students and to build the capacity of staff.  They will provide individualised support to students to foster resilience, improve attendance and respond to identified behavioural, social, emotional and educational needs

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.

Youth/Social Worker responsibilities may include:

Individuals with a relevant qualification such as a degree in Youth Work or Social Work and/or extensive experience in a relevant position that fulfils the specific requirements of the role.

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

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).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@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:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

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

• 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