Teacher Aide

Kerrimuir Primary School is in the in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne with a current enrolment of more than 510 students. The school is located on spacious grounds with a stand-alone art room, computer laboratory, multipurpose room and a library. The Before and After Care facility (run by Team KIds) shares a school building and is well used. The multi-cultural nature of the school is a great asset, enriching the educational experiences of all students. 

We have a very well balanced staff team in terms of experience and gender. Our staff is very dedicated and committed to developing a learning environment which maximises the overall educational needs of our students. We only employ staff with a high level of emotional maturity, who are responsible and innovative in approach. We seek to continue to improve in all areas over the next decade, using current research, DET best practice and via the creative and innovative use of ICT.

The school environment is warm and friendly – people enjoy working at Kerrimuir Primary School. We have high expectations of our students, both behaviourally and academically – and work with the students to set SMART goals in literacy and numeracy. We expect staff and students to uphold respectful behaviours at all times and for staff to work with children to ensure they behave appropriately. Student well-being is an important focus. Our aim is to provide a teaching and learning program of the highest quality, which continues to evolve as new educational issues challenge us.  A positive approach to student management and the development of positive relationships within our school community are a critical part of our ethos – we expect teachers and students to be aware of the learning intention for each session and for the students to understand the success criteria for each lesson. Our Literacy program is based upon a phonemic approach using Synthetic Phonics.

Our school values are - CARE.

Care for people and the environment

Achieve our best

Respect ourselves and others

Educating your child for the future

Staff are expected to uphold these values themselves and ensure the school students are also modelling these behaviours every day at school. We have a detailed code of conduct for the whole school community. We ask that staff model and explicitly teach these values throughout the year, and recognise they are teachers of all children at the school, not just those in their classroom. As such, proactive intervention, as required, is a must do for all staff when seeing children in distress, misbehaving or acting in such a way that they or other children are not safe. This applies in a classroom, in the yard, in the school grounds and anywhere throughout the school.

We currently have specialists in Physical Education, Performing Arts, Visual Art, Robotics and Japanese. Students are also able to receive tuition in musical instruments such as keyboard, guitar and drums outside of school hours. All students have the opportunity to participate in an intensive swimming program. Our camping program includes children from Grade 2 to Grade 6. We provide many and varied opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills, both formally and informally. We also run a number of programs aimed at further developing students’ social skills and work habits. We run extension and intervention programs, to ensure children are taught at point of need (using Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development).
We are fortunate to have a very active parent community and an informed and pro-active School Council. Parents support the school through involvement in classroom programs, fundraising, sports activities, camps and excursions and numerous other activities.

We are seeking staff to complement our school, with a high work ethic, who are calm, well organised and innovative, with a sense of humour. Our school’s greatest asset is the people who work here, our students and our school parents and their families – we are keen to select staff who fit best with our ethos. We are seeking staff who will work positively with the Principal, the Leadership team, all staff, students and parents of the school; who will live our vision and values, and will be an asset to further develop the future learning of the students at Kerrimuir. We seek a committed person, with excellent inter-personal skills, able to inspire students, using current research to drive explicit teaching and positive behaviour management techniques to gain best results for all children. We want staff who are able to develop a rapport with the students and can ensure progress for each student. We also want staff who are happy and able to work effectively in a team environment.

SC1  Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2  Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3  Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4  Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5  Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6  A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
• Supports communication between teachers and parents
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
• Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
• Supports teachers in the coordination of educational programs independently or under minimal supervision, including rostering and organising the work of a team of aides, providing routine co-ordination, guidance, and support to other student support staff, liaising with external providers of support services about clearly defined support needs and resources, assisting teachers with the communication of student outcomes and educational programs
• Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
• Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille

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

The Department of Education and Training 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.

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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’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 DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

This position is for 4 hours per day 3 days per week 9.00am - 1.30pm

• 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