Disabilities Coordinator

Government schools; Victoria; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Disabilities Coordinator role sits in the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch of the Department of Education in the South Eastern Victoria Region. You will lead programs to improve outcomes for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, in a multidisciplinary team and across schools from Foundation to Year 12 to advance inclusive education.

You will build partnerships with schools and health and wellbeing providers, develop and manage projects, and provide

Qualifications

• Disability inclusion policies and frameworks knowledge.
• Knowledge of Victorian education system desirable.
• Understanding of inclusive education practices and rights.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to area and school inclusion planning.
• Support local area SEVR teams by attending meetings and contributing to improved outcomes.
• Prepare high quality correspondence and briefings, liaising with stakeholders and management.

Skills

Disability inclusion

Stakeholder engagement

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Tertiary qualification in Education / Disability Services / Nursing or Allied Health

Job description

Location Profile

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Department

About the Group Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department¿s ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

About the Group

This role is located in the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch, Inner Gippsland Area, SEVR Region, SRS.

About the Branch

The Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch is responsible to lead the Department¿s efforts to improve and reform child and learner wellbeing, health, engagement and inclusion. The work of the Wellbeing, Health and Engagement Division will be based on a strong foundation of collaboration with all relevant stakeholders both internal and external with a particular focus on SRS.

About the Role

The primary responsibility of this role is to lead the implementation of programs designed to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, including strategies that ensure inclusive practices and effective educational programs to support students with disabilities in schools from Foundation until year 12 in a multidisciplinary team. The role contributes to and supports the inclusive education agenda by performing all roles required of the Disabilities Coordinator. Working within the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services branch, the role will work closely with other area staff, Divisional staff and central staff. The Disabilities Coordinator will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within and across the area. The role requires an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities. The position works with schools and families in a way that promotes competency, strengthens families and schools and encourages collaborative planning for student learning needs. The Disabilities Coordinators develop, build and maintain close working relationships with regional staff and schools and develop effective linkages with relevant health and wellbeing service providers in the area. This includes finding innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases along with preparing high quality correspondence and briefings, whilst liaising with a range of stakeholders and management as required. The position provides training and support for inclusive education and the effective implementation of the Program for Students with Disabilities and Disability Inclusion. The position also provides opportunities to develop and manage projects to drive change for schools to deliver effective educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Selection Criteria

1. SC1: Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established Department of Education Disability Inclusion policies and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.
2. SC2: Demonstrated capacity to maintain close working relationships with regional staff and schools and develop effective linkages with relevant health and wellbeing service providers in the area.
3. SC3: Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.
4. SC4: Demonstrated ability to provide expert advice to key stakeholders and guidance designed to improve learning outcomes for students with a disability and additional learning needs.
5. SC5: Demonstrated capacity to work in a multidisciplinary team and work collaboratively with other school staff.
6. SC6: A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Attributes

• an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities within the department policy and school context.
• identifies innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases.
• effective interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills to support stakeholder understanding of inclusion within schools and prepare high quality documentation and correspondence.
• effective project delivery inclusive of planning, engaging stakeholders, implementing, evaluating and reporting on outcomes.
• an ability to work with multiple stakeholders to support inclusion within schools
• develops inclusion capability by improving the knowledge, skills, and ability of others.

Qualifications and Experience

• The Disabilities Coordinator will require a relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (E.g. Education, Disability Services, Nursing or Allied Health) and a current Australian Drivers' Licence and Working with Children Check.
• A comprehensive knowledge of the Victorian education system is also desirable.
• In addition, Disability Coordinators will need to have a strong understanding of the current issues and opportunities associated with inclusive education practices.
• This position is subject to corporate conditions.

Responsibilities

As part of the broader South Eastern Victoria Region (SEVR) Inclusive Education team, the Disabilities Coordinator will:

• contribute to area and school inclusion planning
• support local area and SEVR teams by attending meetings and contributing to improved outcomes
• prepare high quality correspondence and briefings, whilst liaising with a range of stakeholders and management as required.

Technical Skills

• understand and apply disability inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities within the department policy and school context.
• support schools and regional staff with the Disability Inclusion profile process
• interpret and analyse data to inform and provide authoritative advice to leadership, school and regional staff.
• provide expertise and/or professional leadership dealing with more complex issues requiring specialised support.
• translate strategies into programs or projects that actively enable the achievement of outcomes.
• Defines the governance (e.g., success measures, roles and responsibilities, progress monitoring) required to manage risks and maximise success
• provide expert advice in the professional field, to influence the strategic approach to student support and learning
• identify innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases.
• provide effective project delivery inclusive of planning, engaging stakeholders, implementing, evaluating and reporting on outcomes.
• develop inclusion capability by improving the knowledge, skills, and capability of others.

Communication

• demonstrate effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills to support stakeholder understanding of inclusion within schools and prepare high quality documentation and correspondence.
• develop, build and maintain close working relationships with regional, central and school staff.
• develop effective links with relevant health and wellbeing service providers for the purpose of case management and intervention.
• find innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases.
• identify and respond to customer requirements.
• Use understanding of stakeholders¿ context to tailor programs and ensure program outcomes are delivered.
• Effectively manages risks to service delivery.

Responsibility

• implement programs designed to improve outcomes for students with a disability and additional learning needs.
• support whole school inclusive practice.

Who May Apply

The Disabilities Coordinator will require a relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (E.g. Education, Disability Services, Nursing or Allied Health) and a current Australian Drivers' Licence and Working with Children Check.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines ). Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected] 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.

Child Safe Standards

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

DE Values

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

Other Information

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Kellie Asmussen – Manager Health Wellbeing and Specialist Services via 0457 130 981 or [email protected] Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Conditions of Employment

• 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