• Strategic planning and infrastructure role that will drive forward the plan for our young women to develop careers and pathways
• Leadership position
• Work directly with our young women from refugee backgrounds and be involved in big picture planning
• Career and pathways experienced preferred but not essential
• Full-time role (can meet .8 for the right candidate)
• North Melbourne location

INTRODUCTION

The River Nile School (RNS) is an independent senior-secondary school delivering Applied Learning curriculum to engage refugee school-aged women who may have had disrupted schooling, are newly arrived in Australia or find a flexible learning environment most suitable to their learning. All students who attend RNS have English as an Additional Language (EAL) so developing student levels of language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) is a central focus. RNS offers students the VCE Vocational Major (VM) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) with an integrated program with projects negotiated with and developed by students. It provides a high-challenge, high-support learning environment with a strengths-based approach.

RNS offers small class sizes, and teachers and student support staff work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for each student with personalised learning, wellbeing and support programs. RNS adopts a holistic model for supporting the unique educational needs of each student, so developing solid student-staff relationships is essential. Our students come from backgrounds where they may have experienced significant trauma, so we adopt a trauma-informed (healing) approach to our teaching.

Based in North Melbourne, 2024 will be our eighth year as a school. RNS grew out of the River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC), established in 2006 to assist the African refugee community. We’ve grown substantially since then, and our student cohort comprises young women from many regions. As a growing school filling a unique gap in the education sector, we are striving to build strong foundations to empower young migrant women to gain the language, life and work skills to thrive.

RNS has ~110 students and a 30-person team, including 12+ registered teachers and 10 allied professionals with social/youth work, multicultural engagement and refugee health expertise. Our team brings different and overlapping strengths, skills and experiences enabling us to respond holistically to students’ education needs in a respectful, inclusive and productive learning environment.

For further information, view: http://www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvFjyoCmab0

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Director of Careers and Pathways Strategy has responsibility for strategic planning and building infrastructure that will drive forward the plans for our young women to develop sustainable career independence. It is a position on our leadership team that will contribute to our overall vision and execution. There will be a mixture of working directly with our young women from refugee backgrounds and big picture planning.

The Director of Career and Pathways Strategy has responsibility for work experience, structured workplace learning and careers programs, including providing advice to students on work and career pathways. Proactive, personalised student engagement, flexibility, and trauma-informed practice are integral to the role. Facilitating culturally inclusive programs that respond to the physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and cultural needs of RNS students, and options which are attuned to the support needs of our low-literacy students to set them up for success is crucial.

Your Mindset

• You believe every young person deserves a thriving future.
• You respect and value the perspectives of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people and are interested in working with those with complex needs to help them achieve their potential.
• You are extremely comfortable working in a flexible, evolving, changing work environment, staying focused on outcomes and adapting your approach as needed.
• You are collaborative, valuing and respecting relationships within and across our entire team and with our external partners.
• You take the initiative, solve problems and have close attention to detail.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy:

1. Develop clear strategies in how to ensure there is a range of career options and pathways based on student needs. Develop and implement a strategy for careers and pathways planning at RNS.
2. Build sustainable infrastructure that leads towards entry to VET courses, School based apprenticeships, work placements, part time work and further study.
3. Contribute to the implementation of the strategic plan relating to careers and pathways.
4. Develop and manage whole school plans and initiatives around careers and pathways. Work with multiple internal stakeholders to ensure the success of the plan.
5. Support the Assistant Principal, Lead Teachers and Teachers in ensuring careers and pathways lives clearly in curriculum.
6. Drive towards targets in retention data, employment and future study for students.
7. Work with external stakeholders to develop partnerships that promote careers, pathways and further studies.

Workplace Learning Program:

1. Work with the VET Coordinator and Curriculum Coordinator to support students and staff in developing programs that cater for a range of learner levels and vocational education pathways, including Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) and School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs).
2. Liaise with external parties governing SBATs, including relevant government training, workforce development and support agencies.
3. Promote, coordinate, monitor, support and oversee structured work placement, volunteering and job readiness opportunities for students and support students in identifying appropriate work experience placements.
4. Coordinate all necessary work experience and SWL documentation before the commencement of structured workplace learning.
5. Liaise with external employment agencies to arrange work experience and SWL opportunities for students including with the City LLEN.
6. Support students and employment agencies through work experience and structured workplace learning, from beginning to end.
7. Support students to reflect on their work experience and structured workplace learning.

Careers and Pathways Program:

1. Provide information, advice, counselling and support to students on work and career-related topics, including pathways, tertiary applications, tertiary open days and transition from school to work or further study.
2. Prepare a career action plan with individual students.
3. Organise career events and display and share information for students and staff and in consultation with the teaching team organise external organisation opportunities and resources, including Open Days, Career Expo Days, guest speakers or similar.
4. Coordinate the pathway planning of students, in consultation with the teaching team and Assistant Principal.
5. Advise and train staff in student career choices and counselling, as appropriate.
6. Develop and maintain career resources and a careers library accessible to students.
7. Support the job/work and careers education program, that fits within the school’s applied learning Work-Related Skills curriculum.
8. Assist students with Job Search and application skills; ensuring that low-literacy students find meaningful pathways on which they can experience success.
9. Monitor student post-school destinations and their transitioning success.
10. Teach or support classes as necessary in areas of careers and pathways.

General Responsibilities:

1. Proactively contribute to school operations and the school community in other ways to support the success of the role, colleagues and school, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
2. Organise career and pathways events inside and outside of the school as needed.
3. Other responsibilities at the discretion of the Principal and Assistant Principal.
4. Comply with all VRQA and RNS Policies, standards, procedures and Codes of Conduct and, most importantly, Child Safety regulations, Ministerial Orders and Duty of Care.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA - Essential

• Dedicated to developing strategy and infrastructure that supports the opportunities for women from refugee backgrounds.
• An ability to be a self-starter, create resources from scratch and build partnerships to create new opportunities.
• Be an innovative, resourceful and enthusiastic educational leader, or pathways expert, with proven experience.
• Significant knowledge in developing and facilitating transition programs and pathway planning for young people.
• Significant experience working with young people, with deep understanding of the barriers young Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people may experience when accessing further education and employment.
• Highly developed organisational and communication skills to promote and coordinate SWL and Workplace learning and work with external stakeholders.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills in connecting with work colleagues, with demonstrated success in building relationships with young CALD people.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA - Highly Desirable

• Victorian Pathways Certificate and VCE Vocational Major (or former Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) Curriculum understanding, experience or knowledge.
• EAL, literacy, numeracy or applied learning teaching experience and knowledge.
• a VIT Registration.
• Student welfare and wellbeing experience and knowledge.

Qualifications, Experience and Credentials

• Relevant tertiary qualifications – Minimum Bachelor Degree in relevant field.
• Five years of teaching experience in a school setting, including working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) students with complex needs.
• VIT Registration (or capacity to attain this or VIT Permission to Teach)
• 100-point Proof of Identity

Employment Conditions

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience; access to the tax-effective salary packaging; training and development opportunities; supervision and an employee assistance program.

Appointment of the successful applicant will be subject to:

• Reference checks
• A satisfactory Pre-Employment Disclosure Declaration
• Evidence that the applicant has completed training in Child Safety (a DET link to on-line training for non-government schools will be provided).

A 6-month probationary period will apply and induction and professional support programs will be provided.

Applications

1. Must address the Key Selection Criteria and the Position Description.
2. Resumes should summarise relevant experience and qualifications and provide key personal details.
3. The names and contact details of two referees, including current or most recent employer. Referees will not be contacted without the applicant being advised.

Applications including a cover letter, resume and response to the Key Selection Criteria should be addressed to:

The Principal, The River Nile School

And submit your application via the "Apply Now" button.

Enquiries to the RNS Business Office

Tel: (03) 9329 8425 or Mob: 0493 397 036