Special School Teacher Aide

Government schools; Mildura; On-site; AUD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Swan Hill Specialist School is seeking an Education Support Class position to assist in delivering student-centered services within a dynamic school environment.

The role involves supporting teachers, coordinating routine tasks, and providing care and communication assistance to students, including AUSLAN and braille support where required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks.
• Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines.
• Supports communication between teachers and parents.
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities.
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting.
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information.
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure.

Skills

Teamwork

Effective communication

AUSLAN & Braille support

Education

Education Support qualification (up to 3 years)

Job description

Swan Hill Specialist School has a strong positive profile in the local Swan Hill community. Located at the edge of the township in an urban area. We have a hall and commercial kitchen and an indoor swimming pool. Relocatables have replaced several buildings and an additional four relocatable buildings have been the response to enrolment growth. The school site is large and accommodates a community kitchen gardenat the rear.

Sheltered play equipment is available for younger students, Middle Years access a newly developed inclusive play area and the school continues its work in upgrading and enhancing the external areas around the school with a $1.6 million dollar cover sports court to begin this year.

Students come from a wide surrounding rural area with some travelling very long distances to access a specialist education. A high percentage of students come by subsided bus transport, including a self-managed bus service.

Students are from a diverse socio-economic background with many families significantly disadvantaged, evidenced by a high Student Family Occupation (SFO) density of 0.82. More boys (71.89%) than girls are enrolled with student¿s disabilities ranging from moderate Intellectual Disability (ID) to mild intellectual disability with a wide range of diagnosis and associated conditions. Many students have a multi disability such as autism or a physical, emotional and behavioural disability. A small percentage of students come from language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE) and there are approximately 20% of students who come from an indigenous background. Recent enrolment growth and the need to provide a range of different program options and supporting staffing arrangements have been an important focus for the school over the last planning period.

There is a very supportive School Council who provide leadership and direction for the school. There are over 50 staff members almost equally divided between specialist teachers and Education Support Staff (ES),many staff members working at the school on a part time basis. Leadership of the school is by the principal, assistant principal and coaches. Leadershiphave led the work across the school around curriculum and have extended the learning of all staff to build teacher capacity. A multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals including a social worker and speech pathologist are employed or contracted by the school and a school nurse program is running. The school also has available a SSS Team.

The curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum from A- D levels and Foundation to Year 10. Senior students undertake VCAL and capable students additionally undertake VET competency-based offerings. Class sizes are approximately six to thirteen students in each room with a teacher and education support (ES) member. Specialist programs in art, music and physical education are an integral part of the educational program. Each room has access to kitchen facilities to enable home crafts learning. Classrooms are equipped with modern ICT technology and there are netbooks and iPads as tools for learning.

The school has excellent links with the local community focused on educational opportunities, transition links, recreation and welfare. Programs such as Inclusion Outreach are run through the school and provide quality links to other local schools. The SHSS regularly shares its expertise with neighboring schools. The school values are kindness, trust and belonging.

Location Profile

Swan Hill Specialist School has a strong positive profile in the local Swan Hill community. Located at the edge of the township in an urban area. We have a hall and commercial kitchen and an indoor swimming pool. Relocatables have replaced several buildings and an additional four relocatable buildings have been the response to enrolment growth. The school site is large and accommodates a community kitchen gardenat the rear.

Sheltered play equipment is available for younger students, Middle Years access a newly developed inclusive play area and the school continues its work in upgrading and enhancing the external areas around the school with a $1.6 million dollar cover sports court to begin this year.

Students come from a wide surrounding rural area with some travelling very long distances to access a specialist education. A high percentage of students come by subsided bus transport, including a self-managed bus service.

Students are from a diverse socio-economic background with many families significantly disadvantaged, evidenced by a high Student Family Occupation (SFO) density of 0.82. More boys (71.89%) than girls are enrolled with student¿s disabilities ranging from moderate Intellectual Disability (ID) to mild intellectual disability with a wide range of diagnosis and associated conditions. Many students have a multi disability such as autism or a physical, emotional and behavioural disability. A small percentage of students come from language backgrounds other than English (LBOTE) and there are approximately 20% of students who come from an indigenous background. Recent enrolment growth and the need to provide a range of different program options and supporting staffing arrangements have been an important focus for the school over the last planning period.

There is a very supportive School Council who provide leadership and direction for the school. There are over 50 staff members almost equally divided between specialist teachers and Education Support Staff (ES),many staff members working at the school on a part time basis. Leadership of the school is by the principal, assistant principal and coaches. Leadershiphave led the work across the school around curriculum and have extended the learning of all staff to build teacher capacity. A multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals including a social worker and speech pathologist are employed or contracted by the school and a school nurse program is running. The school also has available a SSS Team.

The curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum from A- D levels and Foundation to Year 10. Senior students undertake VCAL and capable students additionally undertake VET competency-based offerings. Class sizes are approximately six to thirteen students in each room with a teacher and education support (ES) member. Specialist programs in art, music and physical education are an integral part of the educational program. Each room has access to kitchen facilities to enable home crafts learning. Classrooms are equipped with modern ICT technology and there are netbooks and iPads as tools for learning.

The school has excellent links with the local community focused on educational opportunities, transition links, recreation and welfare. Programs such as Inclusion Outreach are run through the school and provide quality links to other local schools. The SHSS regularly shares its expertise with neighboring schools. The school values are kindness, trust and belonging.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4 Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5 Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role

[Attendance requirement for this position]

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialisedstudent/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
• Supports communication between teachers and parents
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
• Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
• Supports teachers in the coordination of educational programs independently or under minimal supervision, including rostering and organising the work of a team of aides, providing routine co-ordination, guidance, and support to other student support staff, liaising with external providers of support services about clearly defined support needs and resources, assisting teachers with the communication of student outcomes and educational programs
• Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
• Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille

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 (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