Education Assistant - Special Needs

Department of Education; Shire Of Esperance; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Esperance Education Support Centre, part of the Department of Education, is seeking Education Assistants – Special Needs for permanent and fixed-term vacancies. You will support teachers, work in a collaborative team, and help deliver a range of academic and holistic programs for students with additional learning needs in a specialist secondary setting.

Ideal applicants will have experience with trauma-informed practice, autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities, and will

Qualifications

• Experience supporting students with diverse learning needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing professional learning.

Responsibilities

• Assist teachers in creating an appropriate learning environment for students with enhanced or complex needs.
• Engage and motivate students through inclusive teaching strategies.
• Collaborate with staff, parents and community to support positive student outcomes.

Job description

We are seeking to establish a pool of Education Assistants – Special Needs for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise during the 2027 school year. Appointments may be offered at any time for vacancies that commence during this period. Esperance Education Support Centre is a specialist secondary school for students with additional learning needs. Our rigorous learning programs cater for the individual needs of our students. Our school prides itself on its diverse curriculum consisting of academic and holistic programs. We work in close partnership with Esperance Senior High School and the community to achieve student outcomes. We value, respect and welcome all students, and understand that behaviour is a form of communication. Find out more about our school by visiting Schools Online.

The Role

As a Special Needs Education Assistant, you will ideally have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a willingness to participate in a range of professional learning opportunities to further build your skills and knowledge. In joining our dedicated team of educators, you would ideally be willing to contribute and work as part of this team and display a commitment to working collaboratively to build positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and the wider community. Suitable applicants will ideally be highly effective in engaging and motivating students whilst assisting teachers to provide an appropriate learning environment. A strong knowledge of issues and strategies pertaining to trauma informed practice, mental health practices, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability is highly desired. Applicants should be highly motivated, energetic and possess the qualities to promote excellence. You will have the opportunity to be part of an effective team and support innovative curriculum. You will also ideally show excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, and the ability to work in a highly collaborative manner in promoting a supportive and inclusive learning environment. When addressing the Selection Criteria below, applicants are encouraged to provide examples displaying their flexibility, successes and challenges, in supporting students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, complex communication needs, autism spectrum disorder and complex behaviours, in implementing a range of specialised educational programs.

Want to know more? Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF). For more information about this opportunity, please contact Amanda Moeauri, Principal, on [phone] or emailing [e-mail]. During the school holidays, please contact Amanda Moeauri on 0408 566 780 or [e-mail].

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Advertised Vacancy Number: SS/SS1066953 The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process. Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Friday, 23 October 2026