Social Worker

Department of Education Victoria; Cobram; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria – Cobram & District Specialist School is seeking a Social Worker to promote safe, inclusive learning environments focused on student wellbeing and engagement. The role involves counselling, collaboration with educators and families, and supporting students’ social-emotional development.

You will work with the School Improvement Team to implement proactive wellbeing services, coordinate with allied professionals, and contribute to Individual Learning Plans and

Qualifications

• Social Worker role focusing on student wellbeing and engagement.
• Experience in counselling and collaboration with education teams.
• Strong communication with students, families and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and group counselling to students.
• Collaborate with School Improvement Team, Wellbeing Team and staff.
• Support development of ILPs, behaviour support plans and funding applications.
• Liaise with external agencies and community services as needed.
• Maintain confidential case files and timely reports.

Skills

Counselling

Group counselling

Collaboration

Communication

Job description

Department of Education Victoria – Cobram VIC

Cobram and District Specialist School was established in 1978 and is located in Cobram on the Murray River, approximately 280 kilometres north of Melbourne. The school is a dual-mode specialist setting providing educational programs for students aged five to eighteen years with a diagnosed intellectual disability. The school¿s catchment area extends from Yarrawonga to Katunga and across the New South Wales border to Finley.

The school is committed to delivering positive and engaging learning experiences that support each student to achieve their optimal level of academic, social, emotional, and physical independence. The core values of Respect, Safety, and Try Your Best underpin all aspects of school life. A whole-school approach to behaviour management is embedded through the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Within this framework, school values and expected behaviours are explicitly and systematically taught each week to promote safe, supportive, and productive learning environments.

The school currently enrols seventy-one students on a full-time basis. Eligibility for enrolment requires assessment by a registered psychologist and confirmation of an intellectual disability diagnosis. Each student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), with goals collaboratively developed through Student Support Group (SSG) meetings involving parents, carers, and staff. The curriculum is aligned with the Victorian Curriculum Levels A¿D and F¿10, ensuring differentiated pathways to meet diverse learning needs.

The senior unit offers both the Victorian Pathways Certificate and the ASDAN Independent Living Skills pathway, supporting students in preparing for post-school transitions. Educational programs are enhanced through allied health services and a range of enrichment opportunities, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, camps, excursions, and community-based learning projects.

Students are organised into ten classrooms structured according to age and learning needs. The school maintains strong partnerships with local schools, service organisations, and health professionals to strengthen student learning and wellbeing outcomes. Inclusion programs with neighbouring mainstream schools are a valued component of the school¿s approach. The school also collaborates with Banmira, Belvoir, Seymour, and Wangaratta Specialist Schools, participating in inter-school sporting events such as swimming, athletics, cross-country, soccer, and basketball throughout the year.

School facilities include ten classrooms, an art room, a combined library and sewing room, a woodwork room, an ALERT regulation space, and a multipurpose facility incorporating a fully equipped kitchen. Students have access to contemporary information and communication technologies, with middle and senior students provided with one-to-one computer access. Outdoor facilities include playground equipment, a basketball court, and a garden area. Due to limited outdoor space, the school utilises the oval and playground facilities of the adjacent Cobram Primary School.

The leadership team comprises the Principal, Assistant Principal, and two Learning Specialists. Staffing includes seven full-time teachers, nine part-time teachers, twenty-five Education Support staff, a Business Manager, and an Office staff. Teachers work collaboratively with allied health professionals to design and implement high-quality, evidence-informed educational programs. The school employs a full-time Occupational Therapist, who also undertakes the role of Mental Health Practitioner for two days per week. A speech pathologist visits the school on a fortnightly basis to support students¿ communication development.

Governance is provided by the School Council, which oversees the strategic direction of the school and ensures appropriate resourcing to deliver high-quality educational programs. A School Council subcommittee, comprising parent representatives, coordinates fundraising initiatives and supports school events throughout the year.

Selection Criteria

KSC1. Student Wellbeing, Engagement & Relationships

Demonstrated ability to build positive, respectful and professional relationships with young people, assess psychosocial needs, and identify, implement and review strengths-based, evidence-informed wellbeing interventions that promote student wellbeing, engagement, attendance, connectedness and participation in learning withing a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

KSC2. Case Management and Collaborative Practice

Demonstrated experience supporting students with diverse and complex needs through effective case management and collaborative practice, including contributing to assessment, support planning, referrals, Student Support Groups and the development and implementation of individualised support strategies.

KSC3. Communication, Family and Community Partnerships

Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to establish productive and respectful partnerships with students, families and carers, school staff, external professionals and community services to support positive student outcomes.

KSC4. Professional Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge of child and adolescent development, inclusive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and evidence-informed practice, including an understanding of tiered approaches to student support, the Victorian Child Safe Standards, and Department of Education policies and procedures relevant to student wellbeing, engagement, inclusion and safety.

KSC5. Organisation, Professional Practice and Continuous Improvement

Demonstrated ability to effectively manage completing priorities and an allocated caseload, maintain accurate and confidential records, exercise sound professional judgement with establish policies and procedures, and contribute to reflective practice and continuous improvement with a multidisciplinary wellbeing team.

Role

As a Social Worker at Cobram & District Specialist School, you will play a vital role in promoting a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment, with a core focus on student wellbeing, engagement and learning. Your primary responsibilities will include providing counselling services, supporting students' wellbeing growth, and collaborating with educators and parents/carers to create a positive and inclusive learning environment. With an understanding of our mission, vision, values and the goals with our School Strategic Plan, the Social Worker at Cobram & District Specialist School will support the delivery of proactive and responsive wellbeing services to support the wellbeing of students primarily, as well as staff members and parents in relation to the student in question. The Social Workers reports to the School Improvement Team and Principal Class Team. The structure of the Social Worker's weekly timetable is to be developed and reviewed regularly in consultation with the SIT and the Principal Class, according to the needs of the school.

Responsibilities

Individual Counselling

Provide 1:1 counselling and debriefing to students facing personal, social or emotional challenges. Help students develop coping strategies, set goals and make informed decisions.

Group Counselling-Restorative Practice

Facilitate student group counselling sessions to address specific issues, such as bullying, conflict resolution or stress management.

Collaboration & Communication

Liaise with Cobram & District Specialist School¿s School Improvement Team, Wellbeing Team and Principal Class with regard to engagement of student wellbeing for specific students

Communicate and consult with staff and parents/carers on a regular basis regarding a student's engagement and wellbeing

Support teachers, education support staff and leaders to identify and develop educational, social and emotional programs to support referred students

Participate in Student Support Meetings (SSG¿s) for students and support in the development of Individual Learning Plans (ILP¿s), behaviour support plans and funding applications (DIPS)

Provide written and oral reports as necessary, including communicating information to staff

Assist in the development of positive home and school relationships and communication

External Agencies & Health Professionals

Liaise with external support agencies and specialists, as required

Liaise with community service organisations, government agencies, hospitals, specialist programs and other allied health professionals

Liaise with Principal Class team, re recommendations for the DE Student Support Services

Record Keeping

Develop, maintain and monitor comprehensive and confidential case files

Referrals

Children who are identified as needing support will be referred to the Wellbeing Team through Cobram & District Specialist School¿s referral process and triaged to identify who will access support

Liaise with and provide/recommend referrals to external support agencies and specialists, as required

Assist in the assessment of students¿ safety and welfare needs

Critical Incident Responses

Be available to support responses to critical incidents and debriefing including emotional distress, traumatic events or other urgent situations

Wellbeing Structures, Programs and Practices

Support the implementation of key improvement strategies as outing in the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan

Assist and consult on the existing wellbeing structures, programs and practices at Cobram & District Specialist School to further strengthen these

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*******@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 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal