Address
Form of workWatsonia North Primary School was established in 1971 and is situated in the safe and attractive residential suburb of Watsonia in the City of Banyule, 17 kilometres North-East of Melbourne. The student enrolment is currently 563, with a ceiling cap of 550 students.
As a school community, we are committed to the following guiding principles:
To provide a safe, stimulating and happy learning environment.
Our students share responsibility for their learning.
There is an emphasis on maintaining high standards in all curriculum areas, with a strong focus on developing literate, numerate, and curious students.
Programs encourage inquiring minds and sound communication skills.
We believe that our ability to maximise each child's potential results from:
A professional and caring staff.
Team planning among staff members.
Professional development programs for staff and parents.
Regular, systematic assessment and evaluation.
A shared expectation about high standards.
High expectations for continued growth and development.
At Watsonia North, we place a high value on academic and pastoral care. An integrated approach to the key learning areas is adopted, and we make provisions in each key learning area for activities which enrich and support learning beyond core knowledge. Special programs which enrich and support the key learning areas are:
Performing Arts Concerts
Cross-age tutoring
School Choirs
Instrumental Music Program
Instrumental Performing Groups
Outdoor Education & Environmental Program (Year 3/4)
Camp Program (Year 5/6)
Inter/Intra School Sport
Swimming Program (Years Prep, 1, 3 & 5)
YMCA Gymnastics Program (Prep and Year 1)
Buddy Program
Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) for Preps
Student Representative Council
Learning Technologies Program
Disabilities and Impairment Program
Student Support and Welfare
Transition Programs
Intervention and enrichment programs
Watsonia North enjoys a high level of parental involvement through School Council and its sub-committees, Parents and Friends Association, assistance in classroom and specialist programs, Canteen, Uniform sales and fundraising. Communication with parents is given a high priority. Parents receive a classroom information letter, written reports on student progress, Individual Learning Improvement Plans and have access to formal and informal parent/teacher meetings throughout the year. Parents are invited to curriculum information sessions and targeted seminars delivered by educational consultants. A comprehensive weekly Newsletter is distributed. The whole school management system Compass enables administration tasks and news to be completed through the portal. Classroom and specialist teachers also use the classroom blog to give real-time accounts of student¿s work, pushed out to parent¿s mobile devices.
An Out-of-Hours Program operates both before and after school each day. It provides excellent care, stimulating activities in a safe, relaxing and enjoyable environment.
All school buildings are well maintained, carpeted, heated and air-conditioned. The school has excellent facilities, including Performing Arts and Physical Education Centre and an art/craft room. The grounds include well-established gardens, shady trees, a large sports oval, grassy play areas, garden/veggie beds, extensive playground equipment, and asphalted areas where a variety of sports and games are played.
- Ability to implement a range of individual, small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school's student population.
- Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
- Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
- Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
- Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
Attendance during the term breaks is not required.
Range 4 is distinguished by broader management responsibility, particularly in the areas of finance, human resource and other support functions. Range 4 is responsible for managing a range of functions under a wide range of conditions, subject to the size and complexity of school operations.
Objectives will, generally, be clearly defined; guidelines will be broad and day-to-day direction minimal. Management responsibility extends to ensuring appropriate support levels are maintained across the school. Range 4 generally provides key support and timely advice to the leadership team and school council and liaises with the general school community, the Department and other government agencies and service providers.
Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.
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.
- Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
- Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
- Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
- Liaising with other department areas (including school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
- Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
- Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.
Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Required
- Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
- For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
- For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
- For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
- Demonstrated direct counselling experience
- A current Working With Children Check.
Desirable
- For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
- For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
- For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
- For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
- For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).
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
Please ensure that your application includes:
- A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
- A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
- Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.
Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.
