Principal-Range 3

Department of Education Victoria; Shire of Cardinia; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria – Cardinia Primary School invites an experienced educational leader to join as principal. The role focuses on delivering high‑quality education across nine classes and 180 students, underpinned by strong instructional leadership and community engagement.

Selection criteria emphasise vision, teaching quality, change management, and effective resource deployment, with a collaborative approach to school improvement and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Provisional or full registration with Victorian Institute of Teaching.
• Postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education (ITE) program.
• LANTITE literacy and numeracy requirements for ITE graduates (post-2016).

Responsibilities

• Deliver a comprehensive education program to all students.
• Act as executive officer of the school council and support council decisions.
• Establish and manage financial systems in line with Department requirements.
• Represent the Department and the school in the local community and contribute to system‑level activities.

Skills

Vision & strategy

Teaching & learning

Improvement & change

Management

Development

Engagement

Education

VIT registration

Job description

Department of Education Victoria – Cardinia VIC

16h ago , from Department of Education & Training Victoria

Cardinia Primary School is located at the corner of Ballarto Road and Cardinia Road in the township of Cardinia, approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Pakenham, Clyde, Tooradin and Koo Wee Rup.

The school has been educating local children since 1911. Historically a small school serving the local rural community, Cardinia Primary School has continued to grow and is now the school of choice for many families seeking a welcoming, connected and community-focused school.

In 2026, we have 180 students across nine classes. We have two Foundation classes, two 1/2 classes, three 3/4 classes and two 5/6 classes. Our smaller class sizes provide students with opportunities for personalised attention and support, enabling them to engage positively in their learning. The school has an SFOE of 0.4318.

Cardinia Primary School is supported by a dedicated and collaborative team of teaching, education support, administration and leadership staff. The school's staffing profile includes a Principal, Assistant Principal and Leading Teacher, supported by a Business Manager and administration staff member.

The teaching team comprises 14 teachers, including classroom and specialist teachers, with a number of teachers working part-time. The Leading Teacher also has a teaching role and contributes to classroom learning, while the part-time Wellbeing Coordinator combines her wellbeing responsibilities with teaching. This staffing structure provides the school with a broad range of expertise and supports the diverse learning, wellbeing and individual needs of our students.

The school also employs nine Education Support staff (8.92 FTE), who work across classrooms, providing valuable support to students and teachers and assisting with learning, engagement and wellbeing. The Education Support team plays an important role in ensuring students receive appropriate support to participate successfully in all aspects of school life.

Our staff work collaboratively to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment. The combined expertise of our leadership, teaching, education support, administration and wellbeing staff enables Cardinia Primary School to provide personalised support and maintain strong connections with students and families.

We have a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy, with all lessons designed using the Cardinia Primary School Instructional Model. Specialist programs include Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Science and Auslan (LOTE).

The school is committed to maintaining its rural school ethos and upholding its motto of being a `Caring Family School'. Our families highly value this strong sense of community, and it is an important part of what makes Cardinia Primary School an attractive choice for enrolment. The school's three-year average Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE) index is 0.4573.

The school's annual calendar includes many established events, including a Whole School Picnic, an Easter Bonnet Parade, Show Day, a Cardi's Got Talent show, a Whole School Camp and an annual Christmas Concert. The school has an extensive Buddy Program, with every student paired with a buddy, to support strong relationships and connections across year levels.

Vision and Values

Cardinia Primary School is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students, staff and members of our community. We recognise the importance of strong partnerships between our school, parents/carers and the broader community in supporting student learning, engagement and wellbeing.

We share a commitment to, and responsibility for, creating an inclusive and safe school environment that inspires, challenges and supports all students to achieve their personal best.

Our school values are Respect, Integrity, Self-Regulation and Excellence.

Selection Criteria

(a) Vision and values

Demonstrated capacity to create a shared vision, define and gain acceptance of school goals and set and communicate expectations for effective performance.

(b) Teaching and Learning

Demonstrated ability to manage the quality of teaching and create a positive culture of challenge, support and collaboration.

(c) Improvement, Innovation and Change

Demonstrated capacity to produce and implement clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies and lead innovation and change.

(d) Management

Demonstrated capacity to ensure that the school's human, physical and financial resources are efficiently allocated and managed.

(e) Development

Demonstrated capacity to create a professional learning community that is focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning, supporting all staff to achieve high standards and commitment to their own learning and wellbeing.

(f)Engagement

Demonstrated capacity to develop positive relationships with students, parents/families and the local community and participate in and contribute to system-level activities.

Role

The role of the principal is to lead and manage the planning, delivery, evaluation and improvement of the education of all students in a community through the deployment of resources provided by the Department and the school community.

At the same time, the principal, as executive officer of the school council, must ensure that adequate and appropriate advice is provided to the council on educational and other matters, that the decisions of the council are implemented and that adequate support and resources are provided for the conduct of council meetings.

Responsibilities

The principal is accountable for the overall management and development of the school within statewide guidelines and Government policies. A clear set of accountabilities, which distinguish their work from other members of the Teaching Service and the education community are set out in detail in the contract of employment.

The core accountabilities of all principals are to:

• ensure the delivery of a comprehensive education program to all students
• be executive officer of the school council.
• establish and manage financial systems in accordance with the Department and school council requirements.
• represent the Department in the school and the local community.
• implement decisions of the school council.
• contribute to system-wide activities, including policy and strategic planning and development.
• manage and integrate the resources available to the school.
• appropriately involve staff, students and the community in the development, implementation and review of school policies, programs and operations.
• report to the Department, school community, parents and students on the achievements of the school and of individual students as appropriate.

Who May Apply

Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

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) via*******@education.vic.gov.au

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

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).

Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found atRecruitment in Schools.

VAPA Requirement

• Be a substantive Principal of a registered school in Victoria; or
• Have a statement of readiness following completion of the Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment.