Head of Department - Student Services - Kalkie State School - Special Education Program

Queensland Department of Education; Bundaberg; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kalkie State School is seeking a strategic, reflective and highly skilled educational leader to lead our school's inclusion program and support positive outcomes for every student. This temporary full-time role will drive school-wide inclusion, behaviour support and wellbeing, building staff capacity and ensuring equitable opportunities for all learners.

Reporting to the school leadership team, you will provide curriculum leadership in the inclusion space, support differentiated teaching,

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in developing innovative initiatives to improve student learning outcomes, attendance and equity.
• Monitor and analyse student achievement, attendance and behaviour data; implement targeted interventions.
• Lead student engagement, transitions and induction for new arrivals with families and agencies.
• Build partnerships with parents, school leaders, teachers and community to support wellbeing and outcomes.
• Provide guidance to staff on inclusive practices, ensuring compliance and effective use of resources.

Job description

Head of Department - Student Services - Kalkie State School - Special Education Program

Queensland Department of Education – North Coast QLD

Kalkie State School is seeking a strategic, reflective and highly skilled educational leader to lead our school's inclusion program and support positive outcomes for every student. This is an exciting opportunity for an instructional leader who is passionate about inclusive education,improving student learning and wellbeing, and building the capability of others. The successful applicant will lead and strengthen the work of our inclusion team, developing staff expertise and consistent practices to identify, implement, monitor and document reasonableadjustments for students with disability, ensuring students can access and participate meaningfully in learning. This is a temporary full-time position commencing 21 January 2027 until 25 June 2027, unless otherwise determined.

About Us

Kalkie State School is a welcoming government primary school located in Bundaberg East, Queensland. We offer education from Prep to Year 6, and currently havearound 325 students enrolled across all year levels, supported by a dedicated team of over 50 teachers and support staff.

Our school serves coastal and rural communities in the Bundaberg area, and we are proud to have students from a range of social and cultural backgrounds. Kalkie State School is committed to recognising and nurturing the potential in every child. We provide a broad curriculum that includes academic learning, sporting opportunities, creative arts, music and personal development, all designed to help students grow with confidence and purpose.

We also proudly participate in programs such as the Reef Guardian Schools initiative, being the first in the Southern Great Barrier Reef catchment to join, which supports environmental leadership and sustainability learning.

About the Role

The role will also contribute to the development and implementation of effective, proactive and consistent approaches to school-wide behaviour support, student engagement and wellbeing. We are seeking a leader who combines strong pedagogical knowledge, strategic thinking, sound data-informed decision-making and exceptional interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships, foster a culture of inclusion and collective responsibility, and drive continuous improvement in teaching practice and student outcomes. Working collaboratively with teachers and school leaders, you will provide curriculum leadership within the inclusion space, support differentiated and explicit teaching practices, and build staff confidence in responding to diverse learning needs.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing innovative initiatives to improve student learning outcomes, achievement and attendance, with a particular focus on supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all.
• Monitor and analyse student achievement, attendance and behaviour data, preparing reports and implementing targeted intervention strategies to address individual academic, social and emotional needs.
• Lead effective student engagement, transition and induction processes for new arrivals, working collaboratively with students, families, staff and external agencies to ensure successful integration and appropriate support.
• Build strong partnerships with parents, school leadership teams, teachers, higher education providers, government agencies, community organisations and local businesses to strengthen student engagement, wellbeing and educational outcomes.
• Provide leadership, guidance and practical support to staff in improving student achievement and attendance, while ensuring socially just practices, compliance with relevant legislation and policies, and effective management of school resources.

Please refer to the attached role description for any mandatory requirements for this position.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.