Role Description

The Student Welfare Officer at Elevation Secondary College will contribute to the overall wellbeing and welfare of students at the school under the direction of the Mental Health Practitioner and Assistant Principal.

The Student Welfare Officer will:

• Work collaboratively with Year Level Teams, the Executive Team and the Mental Health Practitioner to provide counselling, support and therapeutic services to students at the school
• Provide counselling and a range of therapeutic interventions
• Be a visible and welcome presence in classrooms and the yard
• Assist with Coordinating and supporting new students to transition smoothly into the College
• Attend and contribute to relevant staff meetings, Year Level Meetings, Allied Health team meetings, Student Support Groups and Engagement and Wellbeing meetings
• Work closely with families to create plans, ensure supports are in place, follow up and reassess as needed
• Provide wellbeing support for the Disability and Inclusion Program, assisting with the development of IEP’s where appropriate
• Promote student wellbeing to the school community, such as via newsletters, bulletins, noticeboards, etc
• Work cooperatively with community service agencies and refer students/families where necessary
• Liaise closely with all relevant members of staff, including liaising with Middle Years Program and Senior pathways Program Assistant Principals
• Maintain accurate and confidential records
• Conduct risk assessments and create safety plans in consultation with student, family and school based teams
• Be proactive in the development and delivery of positive mental health promotion and initiatives within the school
• Case management including consultation with a range of stakeholders involved with a student and/or their family
• Developing and leading evidence-based programs that assist students to be resourceful and resilient at school and beyond, such as Bullying Prevention
• Other duties as directed by the Executive Team

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated ability or capacity to provide a comprehensive counselling and support service to students and families in an educational environment.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of current best practice interventions for students with support needs, including those from diverse cultural backgrounds and disabilities.
3. Demonstrated ability to understand, empathise with and support students in a variety of challenging personal situations, including a strong understanding of trauma, child and adolescent development.
4. Strong professional values and the ability to work as a critically reflective practitioner.
5. Demonstrated capacity to collaboratively work as part of a range of teams (including allied health professionals) and contribute significantly improved student wellbeing outcomes in the school.
6. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people within the education community and beyond.
7. Outstanding professional and personal attributes including perseverance, humility, collaboration and an improvement focus. The ability to balance high expectations of all learners with inclusivity and positive education practices.

School Context

Elevation Secondary College is a brand new 7 – 12 Secondary College in Melbourne’s north. The school opened its doors to its first cohort of Year 7 students in 2020 to a purpose built, state of the art educational facility. At present, the school has nearly 330 Year 7 and 8 students, and will add an additional year 7 cohort each year until 2025 when it will become a 7 – 12 school.

There has been great excitement in the community about the new school, which has been built with a Science, Technology and Arts Building, as well as a general-purpose learning community, Administration Centre and Library. It is expected that once all building stages are complete the school will have a capacity of 1200 students.

The school is situated in Melbourne’s booming northern growth corridor approximately 23 kilometres from Melbourne and services the rapidly growing and aspirational communities of the Aston and Highlands Estates in Craigieburn, Greenvale and further north to Mickleham. The school has had significant demand for enrolments since opening- well beyond current capacity.

School Vision

Elevation Secondary College is an inclusive and outward facing school that values improving student learning, social emotional outcomes and educational attainment for all students. The school is known for its academic excellence, orderly learning environments, inclusiveness and the outstanding opportunities it provides its students.

Elevation Secondary College teaches a broad and rigorous academic program that allows students to build skills and knowledge in all areas of the curriculum. Teachers engage students in a curriculum that challenge their thinking and promotes high expectations for all learners. The school engages in proactive programs in the areas of positive psychology, character strengths, building a growth mindset and trauma informed practice. It will also provide students opportunities to engage in a range of extra-curricular programs that enhance learning in the classroom and the ability to engage in the wider community, academic and corporate world.

Professional Learning Culture

Elevation Secondary College has a powerful professional learning culture, based on the idea that: “if we create a culture where every teacher believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve” Dylan Wiliam University of London. Staff at the school maintain a professional approach to teaching and learning. The school has developed a culture of professional learning where observations, walkthroughs, coaching, data and academic research are commonly used to improve practice. Consistent with the schools behavioural expectations of Aim High, Work Hard, Be Good, staff will be expected to be aspirational, improvement focused and maintain positive and professional relationships with all members of the community at all times.

Staff will be expected to balance the need for high expectations of all learners with a positive educational and trauma informed approach to engagement and wellbeing inclusion.

Other Information

Please ensure that your application includes:

• Names, contact numbers and email address of at two referees.
• A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details, (name, address, contact numbers, business and home number)
• A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirement for application under the Who May Apply Section.

For more information

To find out more about Elevation Secondary College applicants can view our website at www.elevationsc.vic.edu.au or view our Virtual Showcase at elevationsc.vic.edu.au/enrolments/virtual-showcase.

To find out more about the position, applicants can book in a phone appointment with Assistant Principal - Angela Lane on 8339 8000.

General Enquiries can be directed to 8339 8000 or [email protected], using the subject line: Student Welfare enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Candidates should apply via Recruitment Online by clicking the Apply Now button below - Job Opening ID 1259044