• Position: Fixed term full time until 2 Dec 2025 
• Location: Preston
• Salary: $106,389 to $111,092 (based on quals and experience) plus super and salary packaging options

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

The Education Specialist will have the responsibility to promote and encourage best practice in relation to the education of residents across VACCA’s residential care programs. The Education Specialist will use a collaborative approach with VACCA residential staff, to ensure they can best support young people to reengage with, attend and thrive in their chosen education setting.

About You

• Commitment to the values that underpin VACCA's vision and purpose.
• Experience working with Aboriginal families and children in an educational context.
• Understanding of the challenges and barriers Aboriginal children and carers may face within the education system.
• Knowledge of school communities and available support services.
• Experience working with high-risk youth exhibiting challenging behaviours.
• Strong understanding of education support systems for young people in residential care, with a focus on strengths-based, trauma-informed, and therapeutic practices.
• Ability to advocate for service intervention and client support.
• Experience working with individuals and groups, identifying underlying issues, managing conflict, fostering safe communication, and collaborating with other services and supports.
• Mandatory: Tertiary qualification in Education, Social Work or similar. Where a degree is commenced but not completed, salary will be fixed at SCHADS Award Level 5 until successful completion 
• Requirements: Current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster dose, as applicable), a Working with Children’s Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and a Victorian Driver Licence.

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5% loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel 
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs 
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program 

 We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply

Applications should include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and current resume. We encourage applicants to view the Position Description prior to applying.

Please click here Education-Specialist-Residential-Care-L6 Nov 2024.pdf to download the position description for this role. 

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy