Multicultural Education Aide

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Staughton College in Victoria is seeking a Multicultural Education Aide to strengthen connections between students, language, culture and family, supporting EAL learners within mainstream and EAL classes. The role involves collaborating with teachers, wellbeing staff and families to foster inclusive learning and smooth transitions for students and their communities.

The MEA will contribute to EAL program delivery, family engagement initiatives and whole-school support, ensuring culturally

Qualifications

• Experience assisting EAL learners in mainstream settings.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse families and communities.
• Knowledge of Australian schooling for newly arrived students.

Responsibilities

• Support EAL learners individually and in small groups within mainstream and EAL classes.
• Assist students to understand teacher instructions, learning activities and expectations.
• Support language access and participate in the academic, social and extracurricular life.
• Assist families to understand school processes and enrolment; facilitate communication.
• Participate in planning meetings and professional learning; maintain records.

Skills

EAL support

Cultural engagement

Family engagement

Communication skills

Intercultural understanding

Education

Education support qualification

Job description

Occupation: Education and training

Reference: 1547798

Selection Criteria

KSC 1 EAL and culturally responsive student support
Demonstrated understanding of the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and the capacity to support EAL learners to access, participate in and engage with learning.

KSC 2 Family and community engagement
Demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse families and communities and to strengthen communication and engagement between families and the school.

KSC 3 Communication and language capability
Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with students, families, teachers, school leaders and community members.

KSC 5 Cultural knowledge and responsiveness
Demonstrated capacity to draw on cultural knowledge and perspectives to assist staff to better understand and respond to the experiences, strengths and needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and families.

Role

The MEA will work collaboratively with teachers, EAL staff, wellbeing and inclusion teams, school leaders and families to strengthen connections between students language, culture, family and their experience of school. A central purpose of the role is to help ensure that teachers understand the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of EAL learners and are supported to respond effectively to their needs.

The MEA will also play an important role in strengthening relationships between the College and culturally and linguistically diverse families. This includes supporting families to understand school processes and expectations, facilitating everyday communication, supporting transition and enrolment, and helping families participate meaningfully in the life of the College.

The position combines student support, teacher support and family/community engagement and will be responsive to the changing needs of Staughton College's EAL student population.

Responsibilities

Student learning and engagement

The Multicultural Education Aide will:

• Support EAL learners individually and in small groups within mainstream and EAL classes, under the direction and supervision of teachers.
• Assist students to understand teacher instructions, learning activities, classroom expectations and assessment requirements.
• Support students to develop increasing independence as learners.
• Assist newly arrived students to understand College routines, expectations, learning environments and available supports.
• Support students during key transition points, including enrolment to the College, movement between year levels and pathways beyond school.
• Assist teachers to identify where language, cultural knowledge or unfamiliarity with Australian schooling may be creating barriers to student participation.
• Support students to participate fully in the academic, social and extracurricular life of the College.
• Assist in developing or adapting learning resources to improve accessibility for EAL learners.
• Support teachers to identify practical strategies that strengthen students' access to classroom learning.
• Contribute cultural and linguistic perspectives that assist staff to develop learning experiences responsive to the diversity of the College community.

Family and community engagement

The Multicultural Education Aide will:

• Build positive and respectful relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse students and families.
• Act as an accessible point of connection between families and the College.
• Assist with enrolment and transition processes for EAL students and families.
• Support everyday communication between families and relevant College staff.
• Encourage and support parents/carers to participate in school events, information sessions, Student Support Groups, parent-teacher conferences and other opportunities for engagement.
• Assist the College to understand family and community perspectives that may influence students' learning, engagement or participation.

EAL program and whole-college support

The Multicultural Education Aide will:

• Work collaboratively with the College's EAL leadership and teaching staff to support implementation of the College's EAL program.
• Contribute to the identification and transition of students requiring EAL support.
• Participate in relevant EAL meetings, planning processes and professional learning.
• Assist with the development of resources that support EAL learners and culturally responsive practice.
• Contribute to College events and initiatives that recognise and celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity of the school community.
• Provide appropriate cultural and community perspectives to College staff and leadership.
• Assist with targeted initiatives responding to emerging needs within particular student, family or language groups.
• Maintain appropriate records and communicate relevant information to staff in accordance with College and Department requirements.

Organisational responsibilities

The Multicultural Education Aide will:

• Work collaboratively as a member of the College's EAL and broader student-support structures.
• Participate in regular planning and review meetings with their manager/coordinator.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriately manage sensitive student and family information.
• Develop and maintain positive professional relationships with students, families, staff and community organisations.
• Participate in the College's performance and development processes.
• Undertake relevant professional learning to strengthen knowledge and capability in EAL, intercultural understanding, family engagement and student support.
• Perform other duties consistent with the dimensions of work of an Education Support Class Level 1, Range 2 employee as directed by the Principal.

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 [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:

This is a Full Time position- 1.0 Time Fraction. Hours are 8:00am to 4:06pm (negotiable). School Holiday attendance may be required for up to 6 days across the year.

No formal qualification is required for appointment as an MEA.

The following would be highly regarded:

• Experience working with young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Experience engaging with families and community organisations.
• Knowledge of EAL learners and/or the experiences of newly arrived, migrant or refugee-background young people.
• Experience within a secondary-school or educational environment.

Relevant qualifications in education support, community services, youth work, EAL, interpreting/languages or a related area.

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

Location Profile

Multicultural Education Aide Join our outstanding team in 2027!

We're on the lookout for highly skilled and passionate staff to be part of our dynamic school community.

More about our amazing school:

At Staughton College, we are deeply passionate about high-quality education and its positive impact on young people and their communities. For us, education is more than just imparting knowledge; it's about nurturing the whole individual, fostering a love for learning, and equipping students with the skills and values they need to succeed in life.

Over the past decade, our college has grown significantly, now serving over 1,800 students with a dedicated team of 200 staff members. Our community thrives on the belief that students excel when their learning and well-being are closely connected. We are committed to creating an environment where every student has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.

Our guiding philosophy is grounded in equity of access and high expectations, ensuring that all children will learn and achieve their full potential. We ensure that all students leave Staughton College with a love of learning, a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, independence, risk-taking skills, and self-discipline. High expectations for learning and behaviour are tied to respect for the rights and responsibilities of all members of our community.

Staughton College is a place where students are empowered to be dynamic members of our community, actively participating in both classroom learning and extracurricular activities. Through our Staughton Student Matrix, we explicitly teach and acknowledge key positive behaviours that enhance learning, effort, and respect. As an accredited Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) school, we offer specialized pathways for highly able students, ensuring they receive the support and opportunities needed to excel.

A cornerstone of our philosophy is a staff culture that prioritizes strong relationships and open, meaningful conversations about what truly matters. This culture is not just a statement, it s something we live out every day. We consistently model and reinforce these values, ensuring we support one another while also holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards.

We believe that by investing in every staff member and supporting them in being their best, our students will be best placed to thrive. This commitment is reflected in the ongoing support and the many opportunities we provide for professional growth in teaching and leadership.

Our teaching staff use point-of-need data and assessments to plan personalized learning environments, effectively engaging students and meeting their unique needs. Our instructional model, based on the Marzano/Pollock GANAG framework, is used consistently across classrooms, ensuring deep learning. We also embrace a whole-school approach to curriculum development, where strong practitioners invest in writing robust curriculum frameworks, allowing teaching teams to focus on how to teach content effectively.

At Staughton College, we strive to exceed expectations, fostering a culture where everyone-students and staff alike-can grow, learn, and achieve excellence.

Applications close Monday 26 October 2026 at 11.59pm