Head of Literacy and Reading Culture

St Augustine's College-Sydney; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness Passport

Fortnightly staff lunches

Salary packaging options

Community and purpose

Job summary

St Augustine’s College-Sydney seeks an accomplished educator to join the academic leadership team as Head of Literacy and Reading Culture for 2027. You will lead evidence-informed literacy across Years 5–12 and build a College-wide culture that values reading for learning, enjoyment and growth.

You will strengthen classroom practice, raise staff capability and position the Augustine Resource Centre as a vibrant hub for reading, research and study, while embedding literacy across all learning

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced teacher with strong classroom practice, current NESA accreditation and enthusiasm for building a culture of reading and learning.
• Demonstrated experience leading whole-school or cross-faculty initiatives in literacy, reading, curriculum, or teaching and learning.
• Deep knowledge of evidence-informed literacy instruction and literacy demands of different subject areas.
• Ability to engage and influence teachers across disciplines and backgrounds.
• Experience building staff capability through professional learning, coaching, modelling and collaborative planning.
• Confidence using evidence and data to establish priorities, guide implementation and assess impact.
• Strong communication, facilitation, relationship-building and change leadership skills.
• Organisational and project management capability to balance strategic educational leadership with operational responsibilities.
• Experience in, or the demonstrated capacity to lead.

Responsibilities

• Continue leadership and evaluation of our whole-school literacy and reading strategy across Years 5–12.
• Embed consistent literacy language, routines and expectations across faculties and year levels through the IDEAL framework.
• Champion reading for both learning and enjoyment, connecting students with texts.
• Continue, broaden and amplify the value of the Wide Reading Program.
• Partner with teachers and academic leaders to embed explicit literacy instruction across all learning areas.
• Build staff capability through professional learning, coaching, modelling, collaborative planning and resource development.
• Use achievement, engagement and diagnostic data to identify priorities, monitor progress and evaluate impact.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen reading, writing, vocabulary, communication and academic confidence.
• Promote information and digital literacy, including research, source evaluation, referencing and ethical use of information.
• Oversee opportunities that foster academic extension, scholarship, curiosity and intellectual ambition.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Augustine Resource Centre (Library), its staff, collections, programs, services and learning spaces

Skills

Leadership experience

Literacy instruction

Cross-faculty collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Change leadership

Staff coaching

Project management

Mentoring staff

Education

NESA accreditation

Postgraduate qualification in literacy

Job description

Shape a whole-school culture of literacy, reading and intellectual curiosity

St Augustine’s College is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking educator to join our academic leadership team as Head of Literacy and Reading Culture (3 point leadership position) for the commencement of the 2027 school year.

This is an opportunity to lead a cohesive, evidence-informed approach to literacy across Years 5–12 and to create a College-wide culture in which reading is valued for learning, enjoyment and personal growth. At St Augustine’s we believe Literacy is not the responsibility of one faculty or one program. It shapes every student’s ability to access the curriculum, express ideas, think critically and engage confidently in learning.

The Head of Literacy and Reading Culture will bring people, practice, evidence and resources together to make literacy visible across the College and to build a community in which reading, scholarship and curiosity are actively encouraged.

Working collaboratively with academic leaders, teachers and professional staff, you will strengthen classroom practice, build staff capability and ensure literacy is embedded across every learning area. You will also provide strategic leadership of the Augustine Resource Centre (library), positioning it as a vibrant and visible hub for reading, research, independent study and academic support.

About the role

Reporting to the Deputy Principal – Academic, the Head of Literacy and Reading Culture will:

• Continue the leadership, implementation and evaluation our whole-school literacy and reading strategy across Years 5 - 12.
• Embed consistent literacy language, routines and expectations across faculties and year levels through the College’s IDEAL framework.
• Champion reading for both learning and enjoyment, connecting students with a broad and engaging range of texts.
• Continue, broaden and amplify the value our Wide Reading Program
• Partner with teachers and academic leaders to embed explicit literacy instruction across all learning areas.
• Build staff capability through professional learning, coaching, modelling, collaborative planning and practical resource development.
• Use achievement, engagement and diagnostic data to identify priorities, monitor progress and evaluate impact.
• Lead targeted and universal initiatives that strengthen students’ reading, writing, vocabulary, communication and academic confidence.
• Promote information and digital literacy, including research, source evaluation, referencing and the ethical use of information and emerging technologies.
• Oversee opportunities that foster academic extension, scholarship, curiosity and intellectual ambition.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Augustine Resource Centre (Library), its staff, collections, programs, services and learning spaces

About you

You will be a qualified and experienced teacher with strong classroom practice, current NESA accreditation and a genuine enthusiasm for building a culture of reading and learning.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience leading whole-school or cross-faculty initiatives in literacy, reading, curriculum, or teaching and learning.
• Deep knowledge of evidence-informed literacy instruction and the literacy demands of different subject areas.
• The ability to engage and influence teachers across a range of disciplines and professional backgrounds.
• Experience building staff capability through professional learning, coaching, modelling and collaborative planning.
• Confidence using evidence and data to establish priorities, guide implementation and assess impact.
• Strong communication, facilitation, relationship-building and change leadership skills.
• The organisational and project management capability to balance strategic educational leadership with operational responsibilities.
• Experience in, or the demonstrated capacity to lead.

A warm, relational and student-centred approach, supported by sound professional judgement and a strong commitment to student safety and wellbeing.

The ability to teach in a NSW secondary school (holding current NESA accredition)

A postgraduate qualification in literacy, leadership or education would be highly regarded. Experience in a Catholic school or boys’ education would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Why Join St Augustine’s?

This is an opportunity to join a thriving and innovative learning community where academic excellence, student wellbeing and staff development are equally valued.

At St Augustine's, we invest in our people. We offer above-market salaries, meaningful professional learning, leadership development opportunities and a culture built on respect, support and genuine collegiality.

• Fitness Passport membership
• Fortnightly staff lunches
• Salary packaging options
• A strong sense of community and purpose

Most importantly, you'll join a school that genuinely values its staff and recognises that exceptional outcomes for students begin with exceptional support for our people.

Child Safeguarding

St Augustine’s College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students. The successful applicant will be required to undergo appropriate child protection screening and comply with College safeguarding practices.

Applications

Applications close 9am Wednesday 14 October, however applications will be reviewed as received and may proceed to interview, so the College reserves the right to appoint prior to this date. Early applications are encouraged.

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• Do you have current teacher's registration in Australia?
• Do you have a current Working With Children (WWC) Check?