Learning Specialist - Teaching and Learning

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Ranges School in Melbourne is seeking Learning Specialists to model excellence in teaching and support teachers through demonstration lessons, mentoring and coaching. You will contribute to improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students and work with leaders to implement school-wide improvement strategies.

The role emphasizes data-informed practice, collaborative planning and delivering targeted professional learning while supporting a multi-disciplinary team within a

Qualifications

• SC1: Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum and ability to model exemplary teaching across literacy and numeracy.
• SC2: Expertise in high impact teaching strategies and using data to inform learning growth.
• SC3: Ability to monitor and assess student learning and provide feedback to students and parents.
• SC4: Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills for collaboration with students, families and staff.
• SC5: Model behaviours consistent with values and support school-based professional learning.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice.
• Modeling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons.
• Work with leadership to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice.
• Lead and model whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery.
• Provide professional learning and feedback processes to improve practice and student outcomes.
• Supervise and mentor student teachers and coach teachers to improve effectiveness.

Skills

Curriculum knowledge

High-impact teaching

Data-informed practice

Interpersonal skills

Professional learning

Job description

Eastern Ranges School is an F-12 specialist school for students with Autism and an Intellectual Disability located in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.

The school has an enrolment of approximately 200 students. There are approximately 100 staff at the school comprising of teachers, educational support staff and a multi-disciplinary therapy team. The staff reflect a diverse, capable and committed team who strive to support the needs of our students and are the foundation of our engaging and positive community.

Facilities include age-appropriate classrooms and playgrounds, therapy rooms, library, a gymnasium, sports court and pool. We also have the Depot (to develop and build work ethics and employability skills), a primary school kitchen and industry standard kitchen, Eastern Ranges Coffee Beans Café run by our barista trained students, a contemporary living centre that develops functional living skills, and a professional learning centre which supports our commitment to lifelong learning for our school and wider community.

Our school is a safe, nurturing place where students can thrive within a community bound by our values of teamwork, respect, inclusion, responsibility, achievement and optimism and driven by our shared commitment to create safe, respectful and responsible learners. These School Wide Positive Behaviour Support values underpin all aspects of school life and are evident in our interactions and practices.

Individualised programs of learning in line with the Victorian Curriculum are carefully planned and delivered to our F-9 students, with the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) available at years 10, 11 and 12.

Structured teaching is used to provide routine and predictability and to assist our students to make sense of the expectations placed upon them. We set high expectations for all, and review evidenced based practices ensuring our students receive the very best educational opportunities. Specialist teaching programs are in the curriculum areas of Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Health and Physical Education, Swimming and Music.

Teachers work in collaboration with education support staff to deliver personalised programs that meet student¿s needs. Access to learning is supported through strategies developed in collaboration with parents through a multi-disciplinary approach. The team includes Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Music Therapists, and a Psychologist.

The School is further supported by a committed and informed School Council and governing body. Collectively we work together to reach aspirational goals that define Eastern Ranges as a centre for exemplar ASD practice within the community.

Selection Criteria

SC1Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.

SC2Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.

SC3Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.

Role

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning.Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.

The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.

Responsibilities

In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
• Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
• Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
• Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
• Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
• Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
• Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
• Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
• Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
• Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
• Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities
• Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for 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 (seeWorkplace 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) [e-mail]

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:

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:

• 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.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

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

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:

• The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
• if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and
• a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements (this condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian ITE program completed by the person).

Applications close Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11.59pm