Education Support - Specialist School - Ongoing

Government schools; Hamilton; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ballarat Specialist School in Ballarat, VIC, invites applications for Education Support roles across two campuses. Successful candidates will assist teachers, support learning, participate in team meetings and implement student support plans.

Role includes personal care, mobility assistance, classroom support, safety duties and following school procedures; hours 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Monday to Friday. Strong teamwork and communication are essential for student wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Selection Criteria KSC 1 describes capacity to undertake routine support tasks.
• KSC 2: capacity to communicate effectively with school community and provide support and/or attendant care to students where necessary.
• KSC 3: proficiency in the use of office systems, software or technical equipment as relevant to the position.
• KSC 4: capacity to work cooperatively with teachers, education support staff, students and parents.
• KSC 5: commitment to professional learning and growth.

Responsibilities

• Support teachers in the delivery of lesson plans and classroom activities, as directed by the teacher.
• Provide personal care and physical support to students, including toileting, mealtime assistance and mobility aids.
• Participate in relevant training and support students with challenging behaviours in line with individual plans.
• Carry out required medical procedures and interventions in accordance with training and school protocols.
• Assist with supervision of students across a range of school settings and activities.
• Follow school policies, procedures, protocols and the Staff Code of Conduct.

Skills

Cooperative work

Professional learning

Communication with school community

Tools

Office software

Job description

Location Profile

Ballarat Specialist School provides highquality education for students aged 3 to 18 years with diagnosed intellectual disabilities ranging from mild to profound. We are a dualcampus K12 setting structured around four stages of learning: Early Learning (3 5 years), Primary School (5 12 years), Middle School (12 15 years) and Senior School (15 18 years). Our Early Learning to Middle School programs operate from our Gillies Street Campus, while our Senior School is located at our 8.09 hectare FARM Campus in Norman Street. We currently support approximately 440 students across both sites.

Our Mission and Approach

Our mission, Achieving Personal Success Together, guides everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, flexible and stimulating learning environment where both students and staff can reach their full potential. Our curriculum is personalised, balanced and designed to celebrate individual achievement. Teaching and learning at Ballarat Specialist School is grounded in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, the Victorian Pathways Certificate, a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy, and Individual Education Plans for every student. Our pedagogy is evidencebased and supported by a gradual release of responsibility model. Professional Learning Communities drive curriculum, assessment, inquiry and reflection across the school.

Small Class Sizes and Classroom Support

A key strength of our school is our commitment to small class sizes, ensuring students receive targeted, responsive and meaningful instruction. Each classroom is supported by Education Support (ES) staff allocated according to student need, enabling a high level of individualised attention and consistent support throughout the school day. This structure allows teachers and ES staff to work closely together to implement personalised learning goals, support communication and engagement, respond to sensory and wellbeing needs, and create safe, predictable and inclusive learning environments.

Integrated Services Team

Our comprehensive Integrated Services Team works across all areas of the school to support students in achieving their academic, functional and personalised goals. The team includes Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Allied Health Assistants, Mental Health Practitioners, NDISfunded practitioners (in collaboration with families) and Registered Nurses. This multidisciplinary team partners with teachers, ES staff and families to embed therapeutic, communication, health and wellbeing supports into everyday learning. Their work strengthens student engagement, independence and readiness for future pathways.

Pathways and Real World Learning

Ballarat Specialist School is committed to preparing students for meaningful, fulfilling futures. Our pathways model provides students with authentic, handson learning experiences that build independence, confidence and employability skills. Key pathway opportunities include schoolbased enterprises such as the Vintage Soul Op Shop and cafés at both campuses, Mini Woolies at Gillies Street, and accredited vocational pathways including Certificate I in Life Skills and Certificate II courses delivered onsite in partnership with local TAFE providers. Industryaligned learning areas include Kitchen Operations, Retail, Horticulture, Visual Arts, Sport and Recreation, Music Industry and Work Skills. These programs support students to explore interests, develop practical skills and transition confidently into postschool options including supported employment, open employment, community participation and further training.

Individualised Support

Every student has an Individual Education Plan developed through a collaborative Student Support Group involving parents and carers, external agencies, classroom teachers, education assistants and our Integrated Services Team. This ensures each student's learning, wellbeing and communication needs are understood and supported.

Selection Criteria

KSC 1: Capacity and experience to undertake routine support tasks across a range of functions in one or more work areas within a special school environment.

Pathologist KSC 2: Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively with members of the school community including students and the capacity to provide support and/or attendant care to students where necessary.

KSC 3: Demonstrated proficiency in the use of office systems, software or technical equipment as relevant to the position Department

KSC 4: Capacity to work cooperatively with a range of people including teachers, education support staff, students and parents.

KSC 5: A commitment to professional learning and growth.

Role

• Support teachers in the delivery of lesson plans and classroom learning activities, as directed by the teacher.
• Understand and effectively carry out the responsibilities of their position as outlined in the relevant Position Description.
• Seek feedback on their performance and actively look for opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills.
• Act professionally and respectfully when interacting with colleagues, students, parents and carers.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment.
• Provide personal care and physical support to students, including toileting, mealtime assistance, lifting and the administration of medication in accordance with relevant training, authorisations and school procedures.
• Participate in relevant training and support students with challenging behaviours in line with individual behaviour support plans and school procedures.
• Carry out required medical procedures and interventions in accordance with their training, qualifications and relevant school protocols.
• Assist with the supervision of students across a range of school settings and activities, including playgrounds, the bus port, camps, excursions, sporting activities, therapies and life skills programs.
• Follow school policies, procedures, protocols and the Staff Code of Conduct.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to discussions about student needs and support.
• Work with their team leader to identify professional development needs and opportunities to further develop their skills.

Responsibilities

Education Support staff play an important role in supporting students, teachers and the wider school community.

• Maintaining a safe, supportive and child-safe environment at all times.
• Providing routine support to teachers in the delivery of classroom programs and activities.
• Communicating with teachers about day-to-day matters relating to students and classroom routines.
• Assisting teachers with routine communication with parents and carers.
• Providing physical, personal and emotional support to students, including toileting, mealtimes and manual handling.
• Supporting students to understand and follow instructions, tasks and everyday information.
• Responding to immediate student behaviour needs within the classroom and school environment.
• Assisting with the coordination and implementation of student routines.
• Taking responsibility for the completion of allocated duties and tasks.

Responsibilities of this position may include, but are not limited to, the following duties

1. Physical assistance tasks
   • Pushing and supporting students in wheelchairs.
   • Assisting with student transfers, including the use of hoists and other manual handling equipment.
   • Supporting students to move safely between school activities, both on and off school grounds.
   • Assisting students with transfers to and from school buses.
   • Providing physical support to students participating in swimming, sporting, recreational and therapy activities.
2. Personal care and communication tasks
   • Supporting students with personal hygiene and daily care needs.
   • Assisting with toileting and personal care routines.
   • Providing assistance with dressing and undressing.
   • Supporting students during mealtimes, including feeding assistance where required.
   • Supporting student communication, including the use of specialised communication equipment and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems.
3. Classroom and school support tasks
   • Assisting with maintaining a clean, safe and welcoming classroom and school environment.
   • Ensuring equipment is clean, safe and well maintained.
   • Preparing educational resources, materials and equipment as directed by the teacher.
   • Setting up and packing away equipment and resources for classroom, playground and other school activities.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

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

Hours of Employment: Monday to Friday 8.45 a.m. to 3.15 p.m.

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 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal