Student Counselor

Bentleigh Secondary College places great emphasis on students working to achieve their very best, and on students challenging themselves. We all dream of things we want to accomplish during our lives. The difference between those whose dreams come true and those whose do not can be summed up in one word, `effort¿. Effort is the demonstration of hard work and achievement. We believe that the college motto ¿being the best you can be¿ is something everyone in our school community must aspire to by raising the expectations. 

As a learning community, we set high expectations for staff and teachers alike and provide an inclusive learning environment which facilitates the best possible outcome for all students. Our curriculum is innovative and academically challenging. Our co-curricular programs offer outstanding opportunities in the performing arts, instrumental music, leadership, sustainable practices, and sport. Positive relationships are the cornerstone of our inclusive college culture. These relationships are supported by our code of conduct which is based on the following principles: the right to learn, the right to be treated with respect and the right to be safe. 

Bentleigh Secondary College has a strong commitment to promoting leaderships skills in students based on co-operation, tolerance, self-discipline, and concern for others through active participation in the House Sport Program, music, sustainability and performing arts. Involvement in these activities enables students to develop relationships with students across a variety of year levels and encourages a sense of community. Students are also encouraged to be actively involved in decision making. College Captains, Students¿ Representative Council (SRC) and House Captains are important participants in this process.

At Bentleigh Secondary College, we invite students on an educational journey where they can develop their potential in a supportive environment, challenge themselves to be the best they can be whilst fostering resilience and social awareness. 

Bentleigh Secondary College offers outstanding facilities for student learning. These facilities create a great sense of purpose and pride for all members of our learning community and help bring out the best in all our students and staff. 

Our outstanding facilities include: a two court Sports Stadium; Performing Arts Centre and Theatre; VCE Centre; Library and Resource Centre; Information Technology Centre; Science Learning Centre; Year 8 open plan Learning Centre; Year 7 Centre; wetlands environment and outdoor learning area; hospitality kitchen; automotive workshop; and a Year 7 harvest garden.

Our buildings are connected to a high-powered wireless network that enables students to access state of the art eLearning throughout the college. These facilities have an exemplary sustainability design, including water conservation and solar power installation, and are surrounded by carefully planned indigenous water wise landscapes.

The school must enter Selection Criteria as developed by the school for Education Support positions at this level and range. Delete this statement as part of that process.

Student Wellbeing Leaders work in schools to support young people to achieve academic success, psychological health, and social and emotional wellbeing.

The Student Wellbeing Leader will provide high quality advice and support to students and staff.  They will support and comply with DET and College procedures and policies in order to best support the wellbeing 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 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.

The Student Wellbeing Leader will be a member of the Student Wellbeing Team at Bentleigh Secondary College.

The Student Wellbeing Leader will work with the Student Wellbeing team:

Case Management Support

·       Meet with relevant staff, and parents to identify wellbeing needs, develop a case management plan and provide support, advocacy, referral and information as required.

·       Liaise with external agencies, as appropriate, for ongoing case management.

·       Maintain comprehensive and confidential data collection and records related to student case management plans.

·       Conduct parent meetings including home visits where appropriate.

·       Provide effective support, including counselling, to the student community and liaise with and, where appropriate refer students to outside agencies.

·       Liaise with the Learning Community Leaders in the implementation of the College¿s and DET¿s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.

·       Assist students in need to obtain books, equipment and uniforms.

·       Investigate and implement appropriate programs in response to the welfare needs of students.

Whole School Wellbeing Guidance and Programs

·       Participate in wellbeing team planning and review of student wellbeing evidence to inform whole school wellbeing program responses.

·       Participate in planning and delivery of whole school wellbeing initiatives developed through the priorities that are consistent with the AIP.

·       Contribute to the development and delivery of targeted programs with students and parents/cares, including preparing submissions to funding bodies and planning, implementing and evaluating these programs.

·       Develop and maintain networks with relevant youth and community agencies to assist young people and their parent/carers in gaining access to services.

·       Collab orate with school staff, Student Support Services and support agencies to foster the resilience of individual students, improve their attendance and re3spons to their identified social, emotional and educational needs.

Staff consultation and Professional Learning

·       Provide advice and guidance to staff to support student wellbeing and engagement.

·       Assist in the provision of appropriate professional learning and/or organisation of external consultants to meet staff needs in the area of student wellbeing.

·       Provide school level advice related to areas such as mental health, drug education, mandatory reporting, critical incidents, and suicide prevention.

·       Conduct and/or coordinate relevant information sessions for staff, students and/or the parent community.

·       Liaise with the Transitions Team to gather and disseminate relevant information about transition students.

·        Work as a key member of the whole College Wellbeing Team to ensure uniformity of action and purpose across the college in matters relating to student wellbeing.

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

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

• 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