Program Coordinator - Gifted and Talented

Department of Education, Western Australia; Armadale; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrisdale Senior High School in Western Australia seeks a Program Coordinator, Gifted and Talented and Academic Extension to provide strategic and operational leadership of GAT and HEAP. The role focuses on research-informed practice, acceleration, enrichment and wellbeing for high-ability students.

The successful applicant will work with the Associate Principal, Heads of Learning Areas and families to improve teaching, strengthen practice and foster a culture of academic excellence and student

Qualifications

• Strong strategic and operational leadership in gifted education or academic extension.
• Ability to lead innovative, evidence-informed curriculum and assessment.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills for working with staff, students and families.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership of GAT and HEAP, aligning with Department of Education requirements and research.
• Lead the GAT Learning Area, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement in curriculum and student achievement.
• Collaborate with Heads of Learning Area and teachers to design and evaluate innovative curricula and assessments that provide acceleration and enrichment.
• Lead the integration of Design Thinking, entrepreneurship, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving across GAT and HEAP.
• Support teachers with high-impact teaching strategies and inquiry-based learning to promote rigorous and advanced learning.
• Coordinate targeted professional learning in gifted education and differentiation.
• Use data to monitor student performance, identify acceleration opportunities and guide improvement.
• Coordinate transition, orientation and information processes for GAT and HEAP students and communicate with families.
• Maintain accurate program records and complete required reporting and evaluation.
• Lead HEAP selection processes with equity and transparency and coordinate partnerships with universities and external organisations.
• Foster a culture of high expectations, student agency and excellence.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Educational leadership

Curriculum design

Data-informed

Collaboration

Job description

This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 1, 2027

Harrisdale Senior High School is one of the largest and fastest growing secondary schools in Western Australia, with more than 2,400 students across Years 7 to 12, approximately 180 teaching staff and 70 support staff. Now in our tenth year, we have grown quickly in both size and reputation while holding to our commitment to Excellence Everywhere. We draw students from diverse cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds into a learning environment built on high expectations, aspiration and achievement.

We are recognised for strong academic performance, high-impact teaching and a genuine commitment to the intellectual, creative, social and personal development of every student. Dedicated pastoral care, active community engagement and our values of Care, Respect, Responsibility and Excellence shape daily life here.

Our comprehensive Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) program sits alongside high-quality General and Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways, so students can pursue the destination that suits them. Specialist programs include Gifted and Talented (GAT), the Harrisdale Extension Academic Program (HEAP), and specialised Music and Sport programs in Cricket, Netball and Volleyball, supported by a wide range of clubs, teams and enrichment opportunities that extend students at state, national and international level.

We are proud of the culture built over our first decade, and teachers are central to it.

Watch our School Showcase Video for an insight into our facilities, programs, staff, students and culture of Excellence Everywhere.

School Showcase Video: https://vimeo.com/1216032075/35f8626709

Find out more about our school by visiting harrisdaleshs.wa.edu.au or Schools Online

The Role

Harrisdale Senior High School is seeking an accomplished, innovative and highly collaborative leader for the position of Program Coordinator, Gifted and Talented and Academic Extension. This Level 3 position will provide strategic and operational leadership of the school’s Gifted and Talented Academic Program (GAT), the GAT Learning Area and the Harrisdale Extension and Academic Program (HEAP).

The Program Coordinator will promote contemporary, research-informed practice and ensure gifted and high-ability students experience appropriate academic challenge, acceleration, enrichment and wellbeing support. Working closely with the Associate Principal responsible for GAT, Heads of Learning Area, Teachers, Student Services, Students and Families, the successful applicant will lead program improvement, strengthen teaching practice and build a culture of academic excellence, innovation and student agency.

Key responsibilities may include:

• providing strategic and operational leadership of GAT and HEAP, ensuring alignment with Department of Education requirements, contemporary Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre (GERRIC) research and evidence-informed practice, and the school’s strategic priorities for excellence in teaching and learning;


• leading the GAT Learning Area, fostering collaboration, shared accountability and continuous improvement in curriculum, teaching practice, student achievement and enrichment;


• collaborating with Heads of Learning Area and teachers to design, implement and evaluate innovative, evidence-informed curriculum, pedagogy and assessment that provide acceleration, differentiation, enrichment and appropriate intellectual challenge;


• leading the integration of Design Thinking, entrepreneurial capabilities, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving across GAT and HEAP through authentic, real-world learning;


• supporting teachers to embed high-impact teaching strategies, higher-order thinking and inquiry-based learning that provide academic rigour, depth, complexity and opportunities for advanced learning;


• coordinating targeted professional learning in gifted education, differentiation, curriculum acceleration, Design Thinking, entrepreneurial education and the social and emotional needs of gifted students, aligned with the school’s pedagogical framework;


• using academic achievement, progress, engagement and wellbeing data to monitor student performance, identify opportunities for acceleration, evaluate program effectiveness and guide improvement;


• coordinating academic, social and emotional support for GAT and HEAP students, including early identification of students at risk, targeted intervention, collaboration with Student Services and responsive communication with families;


• maintaining accurate program and student records and completing required Department of Education documentation, including GAT Targeted Initiative reporting and program evaluation;


• leading GAT and HEAP transition, orientation and information processes, supporting Department of Education GAT entry requirements and collaborating with the Associate Principal to coordinate equitable and transparent HEAP selection processes;


• developing high-quality enrichment opportunities, academic competitions, authentic learning projects and partnerships with universities, industry and external organisations;


• building a culture of high expectations and student agency that encourages independence, resilience, intellectual curiosity, collaboration and responsibility for learning;


• promoting and celebrating the achievements, innovations and contributions of GAT and HEAP students and teachers within the school and broader community; and


• undertaking other responsibilities as required by the Principal.

The successful applicant will ideally display:

• effective strategic and operational leadership in gifted education, academic extension, curriculum improvement or a related area;


• a sound understanding of contemporary research and effective practice in gifted education, including acceleration, differentiation and the social and emotional needs of gifted and high-ability learners;


• the capacity to lead innovative, evidence-informed curriculum, teaching and assessment and evaluate their impact on student learning;


• the ability to influence teaching practice, lead collaborative teams and build staff capability through targeted professional learning;


• highly developed interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills, including the capacity to engage and work sensitively with students, families, staff, Department of Education personnel and external partners;


• the ability to use evidence and data to monitor student progress, evaluate program effectiveness and guide continuous improvement;


• strong organisational skills and sound judgement in managing competing priorities, reporting requirements and sensitive matters; and


• visible commitment to student success, Excellence Everywhere, and the values of Care, Respect, Responsibility and Excellence.

This is an opportunity to lead two significant academic programs within one of Western Australia’s largest secondary schools. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to shape innovative and research-informed learning experiences while ensuring gifted and high‑ability students receive the challenge, support and opportunities they need to thrive.

Professional Benefits

Working for the Department of Education you will enjoy a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions. Find out more about the benefits by visiting professional and personal benefits.

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.


• hold registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia


• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and


• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website or in the attached application package.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Applications close: 4:30pm (AWST) on Monday, 9 November 2026