AddressVirtual School Victoria (VSV) is the state's leading virtual school, offering 280 semester based courses online, including VCE subjects. With an annual enrolment in excess of 4000 students from Prep to Year 12, Virtual School Victoria is the largest state government school in Victoria. Around 1500 students are enrolled full time, while around 2500 students, most in years 11 and 12, complete subjects with us while based in other schools.
The Virtual School Victoria student cohort is both diverse and unique. We provide education to:
- school-based students who do not have access to the courses they need in their own school
- children and young people with chronic physical and mental health circumstances that make it difficult for them to attend mainstream schooling
- children and young people involved elite level sports and performing arts
- children and young people who are travelling within Victoria, around Australia or overseas
- young adults wishing to complete their education in a way that they find engaging
- rural and regional children and young people who, due to distance, cannot attend a local school.
In addition to offering a host of teaching and learning courses approved by the VCAA, our specialist teachers provide students with individualised learning and support. Virtual School Victoria teachers are dedicated to building the confidence and resilience of each and every student. Like any school, our teachers regularly support and interact with students, but they do so in a different way to most schools: they do so virtually.
A Learning Advisor role is undertaken by all teachers as a core element of their teaching position at the Virtual School Victoria. The overall aim of the role is to connect with and encourage students to belong to the VSV school community in order to optimise their student engagement, learning and wellbeing outcomes. Building positive relationships with students, their family support network and, where appropriate, their health practitioner, in an encouraging, friendly and supportive manner is crucial when teaching in a virtual school. The Learning Advisor role also involves team teaching the Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) program to students in Year 7 to Year 10.
Learning and Teaching at Virtual School Victoria is informed by our Pedagogical Model for Online Learning and Quality Assurance Frameworks for Course Development and Teaching Online. The recent School Review confirmed our pedagogical model and quality assurance frameworks strengthened the school¿s role as a system leader and built on our goal of consistently providing high-quality and targeted teacher practice. Authentic, real-time, interactive learning is a key to teaching at Virtual School Victoria. Teachers develop engaging learning materials and utilise VSVOnline, our Moodle based Learning Management System, to create synchronous and asynchronous collaborative teaching and learning opportunities for students.
Virtual School Victoria students learn by taking part in online collaborative and interactive activities, communicating and interacting with other students and by receiving personalised support and feedback from their teachers. Students participate in active learning targeted to their needs. Teachers use purposeful ongoing assessment strategies to ensure continuous student progress. Data forms an important component in this process and guides personalisation and changes to student learning programs.
Virtual School Victoria's expertise in virtual learning has made us a school of choice for many students and the Victorian families who enrol their children with us annually.
Our vision is to see Virtual School Victoria as a system leader in online, virtual and blended learning: sharing our knowledge and expertise, and leading system conversations around digital learning. Virtual School Victoria aims to lead a community of practice that will evolve and strengthen digital learning in Victoria, and positively influence and support other schools to develop in this space.
Currently Virtual School Victoria is entering the third implementation year of the Government's Expanding the VCE into Rural and Regional Victoria Initiative. The initiative will see VSV deliver all the VCAA VCE Studies Units 1 ¿ 4 by 2023. From 2020 Virtual School Victoria will develop and deliver intensive 10 week online courses to high performing students, years 5 - 8 in the DETs Student Excellence Program.
The Virtual School Victoria teachers work mostly in teams. As such it is important that all staff demonstrate effective teamwork. In particular, staff must be collaborative, cooperative and recognise the value of others contributions with a view to negotiating the best outcomes for teams, students and Virtual School Victoria as a whole.
1. Content of teaching and learning
- Demonstrated high level knowledge of the relevant key learning area(s) and the way students learn, especially via flexible online learning.
- Demonstrated capacity to respond at the school level to emerging educational needs and priorities.
2. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
- Demonstrated high level knowledge of the concepts and structures of effective online instruction and the ability to create learning experiences to enable student success.
- Demonstrated high level understanding of and experience in the use a range of technologies, both existing and emerging, that effectively support learning and engagement in an online environment.
- Demonstrated capacity to reflect critically upon professional practice and learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
3. Assessment, provision of feedback and reporting on student learning.
- Demonstrated high level practice in the provision of frequent, ongoing assessment and monitoring of student progress.
- Demonstrated high level competency in using data from assessments and other sources to modify content and guide student learning.
4. Creation and maintenance of supportive and safe learning environments
- Demonstrated high level competency in the creation and management of a learning environment that supports and engages learners.
- Demonstrated high level experience in modelling, guiding and encouraging children and young people in the legal, ethical and safe behaviour related to technology use.
5. Professional Expectations
- Demonstrated high level experience in meeting the diversity of student learning and social/emotional needs both in the classroom and through online learning.
- Demonstrated high level communication and interpersonal skills when relating to students, parents, supervisors and other teachers.
- Demonstrated capacity to build and sustain effective relationships with students and parents
The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.
As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.
Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.
A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.
Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.
Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.
At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.
Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.
Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.
The Student Inclusion Coordinator will be a member of the Student Inclusion Team at Virtual School Victoria and accountable to the Principal through the Assistant Principal, Student Engagement and Wellbeing.
The Student Inclusion Coordinator will work with the Student Inclusion Team under the direction of the Team Leader to provide:
Case Management Support
- Respond to Student Inclusion referrals in collaboration with the Inclusion Team by undertaking assessment, developing clear plans and engaging all stakeholders in the implementation of support strategies.
- Guide teaching staff on the use of targeted assessment tools to identify learning issues. (E.g., PAT-R, PAT-Maths) in conjunction with VSV Learning Specialists.
- Convene and participate in Student Learning Action Meetings (SLAMs) to provide guidance to teachers to support the development of appropriate learning programs for the student.
- Provide ongoing review of students to ensure strategies and supports are appropriate to the needs of the student throughout the year.
- Facilitate Student Support Groups (SSGs) for mandated students as required.
- Review and assess information pertaining to students approved or eligible for Program for Students with a Disability, Disability Inclusion or NCCD funding at time of enrolment.
- Liaise with supporting practitioners and with education system regional and school-based disability, VTS and SSS staff and with external community agencies (esp. disability support services, AMAZE, SVRC) as appropriate, to provide support, advocacy, referral and information as required for assessment and/or ongoing case management.
- Support the development, monitoring and reporting of Individual Education Plans (IEP) for students previously approved PSD//DI/NCCD funding.
- Maintain comprehensive and confidential data collection and records related to inclusion students.
Staff Consultation and Professional Learning
- Provide consultation, advice and guidance to staff on assessment and planning of learning support strategies.
- Assist in the provision of appropriate professional learning and/or organisation of external consultants to meet staff needs in the area of Student Inclusion.
- Compile and maintain resources on specific learning difficulties; promoting availability to teachers.
Whole School Student Inclusion Guidance
- Participate in Inclusion Team planning and review of Student Inclusion evidence to inform Virtual School Victoria Student Inclusion policy, procedure and program responses
- Participate in planning and delivery of whole school Student Inclusion initiatives.
- Provide school level advice related to areas such as Disability Standards for Education, reasonable adjustments.
- Support the Team Leader Student Inclusion to complete a school wide audit of additional support for students with disabilities as part of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability.
Colleagues/ Teams:
- The Student Inclusion Coordinator will be an integral member of the Student Inclusion Team.
- Wellbeing & Inclusion Team members work closely together and in close collaboration with Heads of Schools and Leading Teachers; Engagement with Learning Specialists Literacy / Numeracy / Student Inclusion to deliver coordinated responses to students
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
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).
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 *** or email on: **********@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:
Child Safe Standards: Policy | education.vic.gov.au
The Department’s employees commit to upholding DE’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DE’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 DE values is available at:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx
VSV employs a hybrid rostering system of remote and onsite work for all teaching staff. The successful applicant will be required to work onsite at Virtual School Victoria, 315 Clarendon Street, Thornbury on their rostered onsite day(s).
Applicant must hold Special Education specific qualification(s).
Virtual School Victoria utilises a Moodle based learning management system for the development and delivery of the teaching and learning program Foundation ¿ Year 12. Experience in the use of a Moodle based platform would be advantageous.
Virtual School Victoria utilises its own Student Database, not CASES21 Administration. Training will be provided.
You can learn more about what it¿s like to work at VSV here - Virtual School Victoria (vsv.vic.edu.au))
Prospective applicants are advised to visit the VSV website www.vsv.vic.edu.au
Applications should be prepared in a standard font, preferably Arial or Calibri, at size 11 or 12. Pages should be single sided and have well delineated sections using clear headings.
Applicants are advised to include:
- A cover sheet providing the name of the applicant, record number (where applicable), VIT number, home and email address, telephone number and a telephone number where the applicant can be contacted during business hours.
- A specific response to each of the five selection criteria of no more than one page per criterion.
- A separate curriculum vitae that is a summary of experience and qualifications.
- The names of three referees including contact details, work and mobile phone numbers, email address, current position and relationship to the applicant, and a short explanation as to which selection criteria each referee can best comment on
Late applications will not be considered.
- 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
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.
