About This Opportunity  

To provide students with assistance and support through all aspects of student life. This includes advice on financial assistance, accommodation, diversity, disability, inclusion and health and wellbeing related issues. In addition, the Principal Student Adviser proactively develops and leads programs to address issues impacting on students.

Principal Student Advisers specifically provide:

• Assistance to international students with transitional and adjustment issues so that they can achieve their academic and personal goals through individual appointments or group programs.
• Assistance to students with a disability, advice, and guidance to build an appropriate and reasonable plan of assistance and adjustments to enable full participation in the learning experience as far as is reasonably possible.

The position will work as part of a larger team within Student Services, will represent Student Services across the University’s campuses, and work closely with other key providers including Student Counselling, the Libraries and importantly, Academic Units.

This role will also act as a referral service to external agencies and internal specialist areas

 Key responsibilities include:

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Identify and assess the specific needs particularly of international students, medical students, and students with a disability, and plan, design and conduct support programs in response to these needs.
• Manage and mentor staff and placement students as relevant to the specific need area.
• Coordinate and deliver welfare and student support services for students to assist with their transition to the University environment.
• Oversee, co-ordinate and implement strategies to support students with a permanent or temporary disability, including illness and injury, during their studies.
• Provide advice to University staff on requirements, within the University environment, for students with a disability and formulate strategies to address these requirements.
• Conduct regular evaluation of student advisory and support programs and engage in relevant research to initiate service improvement.
• Provide assistance and leadership/management in crisis situations.
• Perform administrative duties such as case management and recordkeeping, correspondence and report writing.
• Engage proactively with academic and administration staff to raise awareness and inform on student issues and concerns.
• Undertake strategic, applied research relevant to the concerns and activities of Student Services.
• Contribute proactively to ensure effective operation of the student support teams.
• Develop and maintain networks or partnerships with other staff of the University, student groups, government departments and other agencies on international student support services and issues.
• Any other duties as reasonably directed by your supervisor.

Other

Ensure you are aware of and comply with legislation and University policy relevant to the duties undertaken, including but not exclusive to:

• The University’s Code of Conduct.
• Requirements of the Queensland occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation and related OH&S responsibilities and procedures developed by the University or Institute/School.
• The adoption of sustainable practices in all work activities and compliance with associated legislation and related University sustainability responsibilities and procedures.
• Requirements of the Education Services  for Overseas Students Act 2000, the National Code 2007 and associated legislation, and related responsibilities and procedures developed by the University.

The position reports to the Service Improvement Manager.

About Student Services

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (DVCA) is a member of The University’s senior executive, and is responsible for the University’s commitment to providing high-quality teaching and learning, and enhancing the UQ student experience.

The Student Services Directorate is part of the Student Affairs Division, which also comprises the Health Service and UQ Student Employability Centre. The objective of Student Services is to provide a range of services and support functions that enhance the student experience and assist in ensuring student success.

The current initiatives run by Student Services fall into a number of areas:

• Advice Teams | The focus is on enabling student success through providing general and specialist support including accommodation, disability and inclusion, general welfare and international student advice.
• Learning Development Team | The focus is on supporting student success through online, group and one to one initiatives to enhance academic and learning skills for students.
• Counselling Team | The focus is on providing an opportunity for enrolled students to access professional counselling so that they may better develop and fulfil their personal, academic and professional potential.
• Student Experience Teams | The focus is on delivering projects that help students make connections and partnerships that enhance their experience at UQ.  The work of this team will provide opportunities for students to build a sense of belonging and support within UQ.

Services are delivered across the St Lucia, Gatton and Herston campuses. Information about the Directorate may be accessed on the Student Services web site at http://www.uq.edu.au/student-services

Information for Prospective Staff

Information about life at UQ including staff benefits, relocation and UQ campuses is available at - http://www.uq.edu.au/current-staff/working-at-uq

About You

Essential:

• A degree in a relevant area (e.g. Social Work, Sociology, Behavioural Science, or Psychology) and at least four years subsequent relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies to assist students with a disability to be actively engaged with their studies and strive to be independent learners.
• A demonstrated ability to understand human relations and behaviour and to assist students in dealing with their concerns.
• Strong organisational skills, including planning, scheduling and prioritisation to support managing multiple events.
• A demonstrated high level of communication and negotiation skills, including ability to demonstrate tact, discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise critical judgment and provide relevant advice to staff at all levels.
• Experience in establishing, developing, and maintaining relationships with those outside the immediate work unit.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, develop and implement pro-active programs, workshops, and on-line information in response to the needs of students.
• Experience in working with and understanding the needs of people from a range of backgrounds including non- English-speaking backgrounds and/or with a disability.
• Ability to work co-operatively and supportively as a member of a team.

Desirable:

• A minimum of four years’ experience and demonstrated ability to provide welfare, academic or disability support services, particularly in a tertiary or related environment.

What We Can Offer  

 This is a Full-time, Continuing position at HEW 7.   

The full-time equivalent base salary will be in the range $90,538.40 to $98,719.38 plus super of up to 17.5%. The total FTE package will be in the range $105,929.93 to $115,501.67 per annum.  

The role is a full-time position; however, flexible working arrangements may be negotiated.

For further information about UQ’s benefits, please visit Why Work at UQ and review The University of Queensland's Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2018-2021.  

 Questions?

To discuss this role please contact Helen Clayton at [email protected] using the subject line: Principal Student Adviser enquiry via EthicalJobs.

For application queries, please contact [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject line.  

Want to Apply?

Click the "Apply Now" button to submit an application. All applicants must supply the following documents:  

• Cover letter addressing the ‘About You’ section. This should be no more than 2 x A4 pages long. 
• Resume  

 To satisfy pre-requisite questions and ensure your application can be considered in full, all candidates must apply via the UQ Careers portal by the job closing deadline. Applications received via other channels, including direct email, will not be accepted.  

About the Selection Process  

The University of Queensland is committed to ensuring all candidates are provided with the opportunity to attend the panel interviews, however, for those candidates who are unable to attend in person, video interview options will be available.     

Other Information  

Mandatory Immunisations: It is a condition of employment for this role that you will be required to provide evidence of immunisation against certain vaccine preventable diseases.  

Work Rights: You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.  

Background Checks: All final applicants for this position may be asked to consent to a criminal record check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.  

Blue Card: You must be in possession of a valid Blue Card.

We value diversity and inclusion, and actively encourage applications from those who bring diversity to the University. Our Diversity and Inclusion webpage contains further information if you require additional support. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to [email protected].

If you are a current employee of the University, or hold an unpaid or affiliate appointment with the University, please login to your staff Workday account and visit the internal careers board to apply for this opportunity. Please do NOT apply via the external job board.