Special Needs Teacher

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to improve and enrich the lives of young learners?

Tombolo Academy is seeking innovative, creative, and dynamic specialist Special Needs Teachers to join our friendly and experienced team.

• Full-time preference, part-time considered
• Term 2 start
• As a registered charity, we offer attractive salary packaging benefits.

At Tombolo Academy, we strive to re-engage the disengaged by providing meaningful learning opportunities, forming purposeful relationships, and improving student outcomes by adopting an innovative approach.

About Tombolo Academy

Tombolo Academy is a unique specialist setting that caters for highly capable neurodiverse (twice exceptional) students aged 8-16 who have previously found it challenging to learn and engage in a mainstream setting.

We provide a calm, safe and stimulating learning environment where students feel comfortable to fail and face their challenges with the support of caring and understanding staff members.

About the role

We are looking for adaptable and creative team members who are passionate and determined to improve student outcomes. You will need to be a patient and resilient educator with a good sense of humour.

The ideal applicant will:

• Demonstrate a high level of collaboration in a flexible classroom setting.
• Be willing to teach more than one subject.
• Have effective interpersonal skills and be prepared to work independently as well as a member of a team.
• Be able to form strong and meaningful relationships with students and parents.
• Have experience and interest in using new age technology to enhance learning.
• Demonstrate creative and innovative teaching practices to provide rich learning opportunities for all students. 
• Have experience with positive behaviour support models.
• Have experience in teaching children with social, emotional, and behavioural issues.
• Be a confident classroom manager both in terms of student behaviour and liaising with a range of other professionals.
• Be able to differentiate teaching and learning for students with various needs and abilities such as ASD and ADHD.

Tombolo Academy can offer you

• Competitive salary and a range of benefits including NFP salary packaging.
• Over 13 weeks of holiday per year.
• Small class sizes with a high staff ratio.
• Modern, flexible, and designed-for-purpose learning spaces.
• A focus on work-life balance, with team building and wellbeing days scheduled in.
• A highly experienced team of educators to offer assistance and guidance.
• Ongoing coaching and mentoring with behaviour strategies and learning design.
• Flexibility to create engaging and innovative lessons.
• A friendly, supportive, and welcoming team.
• Professional development opportunities and role diversity.

Essential requirements 

• Victorian Institute of Teaching registration.
• First aid certificate or be willing to obtain one.
• Be legally entitled to work in Australia.

Desirable

• Understanding of neurodiverse students.

Key Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to tailor lesson plans and teaching strategies to meet the specific needs of neurodiverse students, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and sensory sensitivities. This includes adapting teaching methods and materials to accommodate cognitive processing differences.
• Demonstrated understanding of engaging students who have often had a negative experience in a mainstream setting and are not always in a place to learn. This entails creating a supportive and inclusive classroom environment that recognises and values each student's unique background and experiences, encouraging a positive re-engagement with learning.
• Demonstrated ability to design engaging, creative lessons to improve student outcomes. This involves leveraging innovative teaching techniques and resources to capture students' interest and stimulate their curiosity, making learning a rewarding experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a small team and develop strong relationships with students, staff, and the Tombolo community. The ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, contribute to a cohesive team environment, and build meaningful connections with all community members is essential for fostering a supportive learning atmosphere.
• Demonstrated patience, understanding, and empathy when working with students who may require additional time, support, and encouragement to grasp concepts and complete tasks. Recognising and respecting each student's pace of learning and providing the necessary accommodations and support to help them succeed.
• Demonstrated proficiency in integrating technology to enhance learning for neurodiverse students. This includes selecting and utilising appropriate digital tools and resources to create accessible and differentiated learning experiences.

Tombolo Academy is committed to being a child-safe organisation.

Please apply by submitting a current CV and cover letter addressing the 5 KSC below, or send to *****@tombolo.vic.edu.au

If you are interested in learning more about twice exceptional students or Tombolo Academy, please explore our website at https://tombolo.vic.edu.au/
Summary of role requirements:

• Looking for candidates available to work:
  • Monday: Morning, Afternoon
  • Tuesday: Afternoon, Morning
  • Wednesday: Morning, Afternoon
  • Thursday: Afternoon, Morning
  • Friday: Morning, Afternoon
• 2-3 years of relevant work experience required for this role
• Working rights required for this role
• Expected start date for role: 15 April 2024
• Expected salary: $90,000 - $130,000 per year