Social Worker

Department of Education Victoria; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria in Melbourne, Victoria, is seeking a Social Worker to provide high level wellbeing and educational support for school age students. The role focuses on advanced wellbeing interventions, multidisciplinary coordination, and policy development to improve student outcomes.

The successful candidate will lead and support a multi-disciplinary team, collaborate with teachers, families, and external services, and contribute to resilience-building programs for diverse

Qualifications

• Expert consultation to schools, healthcare providers and families on evidence-based best practices.
• Knowledge of student wellbeing issues and policies; experience with schools is valued.
• Experience initiating and implementing programs, procedures and policies to support resilience.
• Experience in critical incident response is desirable.
• Experience working in schools with children and youth; strong communication with leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide high level social work support to school age students to improve learning.
• Undertake advanced wellbeing interventions supporting students and programs.
• Coordinate student support services within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Contribute to student wellbeing policy development.
• Provide leadership within a multi-disciplinary student support team.
• Support teachers in developing educational programs for students with additional needs.
• Offer professional advice on student wellbeing issues.
• Collaborate with other student support services on complex cases.
• Contribute to professional development of social worker colleagues.
• Liaise with community services, hospitals and other professionals regarding student support.

Skills

Expert consultation

Disability inclusion

Program development

Critical incident response

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Social Work degree or equivalent

Eligibility for AASW

Job description

Department of Education Victoria – Melbourne VIC

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Division

Schools and Regional Services comprises 17 Areas within four regions across the state, as well as 5 central Divisions. Student Support Services (SSS) comprise the Allied Health professions of psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers, occupational therapists and behaviour analysts.

SSS staff are part of an Area based multi-disciplinary health, wellbeing, and inclusion team and, together with the Area school improvement team, help build the capability of schools to support student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing. To achieve these outcomes, SSS work in a multidisciplinary way to plan and deliver services in collaboration with schools in a multi-tiered system of support. SSS services include consultation, provision of a range of strategies and specialised support at individual, group, classroom, school, and Area levels.

About the Role

This is a fixed term full time role until 27 January 2028.

Join our dynamic team as a social worker where you will be primarily responsible for:

• Providing high level social work support to school age students to improve student learning.
• Undertaking advanced wellbeing interventions that support students and school educational programs.
• Assisting the coordination of student support services within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Contributing to student wellbeing policy development.
• Providing leadership, professionally and operationally, within a multi-disciplinary student support team.
• Supporting teachers in the development of educational programs, particularly in respect to students with additional needs.
• Providing authoritative professional advice in relation to issues involving student wellbeing.
• Collaborating with and providing advice to other student support services team members in respect to complex cases.
• Contributing to the professional development of other social worker team members.
• Liaising with community service organisations, DFFH, hospitals, specialist programs and other professionals regarding the support needs for students.

Attributes

Are you passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals?

You will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on young learners from diverse families by supporting their educational/developmental needs. You'll work in a vibrant, progressive community, enjoying professional growth opportunities and the chance to make a difference every day.

Your specialist expertise as a social worker coupled with knowledge of student wellbeing issues and skills in providing consultation to a variety of stakeholders within the education community, will be highly regarded.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ability to provide expert consultation to schools, healthcare providers and families on evidence-based best practices.
• Knowledge of student wellbeing issues, disability Inclusion, policies and experience working with schools will be highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience in the initiation, development and implementation of programs, procedures and policies that foster resilience in children and young people to support their educational needs.
• Experience in critical incidence response, desirable.
• Experience working in schools and with children and youth.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and school leadership team to ensure holistic care, supporting student learning and wellbeing.
• Exceptional planning and organising skills, with an ability to be responsive, taking initiative and accountability for actions.
• Ability to work flexibly, as Student Support Services is a front-line service requiring rapid response.

Mandatory requirements

• A graduate or post-graduate degree in Social Work or equivalent.
• Eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
• A valid Victorian Working with Children Check and full Drivers' License is required for this position.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.