Teacher Aide

A place of excellence in education that creates inclusive communities and success for all.

VALUES

Driving learning growth

Valuing diversity with kindness and respect

Uniting to achieve excellence

Ensuring equity of opportunity

SWPBS MANTRAS

Bendigo Special Developmental School employees a School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework to support student engagement and learning. Our mantras, which double as our values, are for all members of our school community to Act Safely, Show Respect and Be Your Best.

The Bendigo Special Developmental School provides education programs for school aged students 5 to 18 with a moderate to severe intellectual disability. Our students reside in the Bendigo Region encompassing Kyneton, Wedderburn, Heathcote and Huntly.  The current enrolment is 152 students.

DET and VCAA curriculum guidelines are followed at the school, with all students being taught all eight subjects and four capabilities of the Victorian Curriculum.  The Victorian Teaching and Learning Model is used to design and implement an individualised learning plan for each student, identified in their Personalised Learning Support Plan. Staff work in Professional Learning Communities to collaboratively plan and moderate student learning and achievement

Teamwork and communication between staff and parents is a priority.  Student Support Group meetings are held each term and support the preparation and review of the Personalised Learning and Support Plan. Parent and caregiver dialogue is support by fortnightly newsletters, a Facebook page, and daily communication through student diaries. Learning programs are additionally supported by the schools physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist and Family Support Teacher. 

Several students are dual enrolled in mainstream schools for varying time fractions. Cooperative planning and programming between both educational settings and continual review and support of student progress are essential elements of the success and extension of these programs.

As a recognised resource for special education, the school provides an information, consultancy and professional development base for teachers, parents, tertiary students and other people involved in the disability field.

This school is committed to respecting the dignity of the individual and providing students with disabilities with maximum opportunity to extend their intellectual, physical, social and emotional development in a safe, happy and positive 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.

• 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.

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.

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

Additional Information for all staff, including part time staff i.e. 0.6, 0.75, 0.89 and full time staffPrimary Role and Outcomes - Student/Teacher SupportOther Roles and Outcomes

• Provide routine support for teachers and students  
• Communicate with teachers about routine matters 
• Provide guidance around physical and emotional care for students such as toileting, meals and lifting, co-regulation
• Communicate with student/s about comprehension of basic tasks i.e. using PODD Books and other Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Address immediate behaviour issues relating to specific students within a classroom setting using School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPBS)
• Assist with coordination and planning of student routines
• Accountable for performance of allocated tasks e.g. supporting teaching and learning
• Effective and supportive team player 
• Open communication and mutual respect to all staff promoting a positive school climate 
• Support implementation of Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) 
• Follow and undertake school operations: timetables, weekly bulletin and staffroom whiteboard, emails, allocated Meetings   
• Adopt school Values, Staff SWPBS Matrix 
• Adopt whole School Code of ConductAttend Meetings:  Whole School Staff Meetings, ESS Meetings fortnightly or as required
• Attend Professional Development: School based Professional Development meetings e.g. manual handling, asthma, first aid, induction etc fortnightly or as required
• Communicate positively with students, staff and parents 
• Abide by school policies 
• Participate in School Improvement Programs
• Be responsible for students in your care

• 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