About the Department

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 Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s.

The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.

With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program.

About the Division

The Asset Management Division supports the effective management of school assets through condition assessments, tools for school maintenance planning, by providing training and advice to school leaders, supporting asset information systems, delivering centralised programs for high-risk areas, implementing reform projects to strengthen the system, and implementing initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of schools.

Freeing up schools to lead and teach

The Small Schools Program is a joint initiative between the VSBA and the Employee Health Safety Wellbeing and Inclusion Division (ESWID), as part of the Rural and Regional Support Initiative. ESWID supports the department to provide a work environment and workplace climate that is safe, protects against risks to physical and psychological health. The Small Schools Program supports small rural and regional schools across Victoria to enhance the capability of principals and reduce their administrative load by assisting them to complete their various facilities and OHS obligations. The program currently supports 16 clusters of approximately 21 schools across Victoria.

About the Role

The Small Schools Facilities and OHS Coordinator (Coordinator) position is an exciting opportunity to support participating small schools across rural and regional Victoria in managing their asset maintenance, compliance with Essential Safety Measures (ESM), and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) risks and obligations. Located in the regions, this role requires travelling to participating schools to provide face-to-face support to principals and other school staff, typically one visit per term for each school.

The Coordinator's primary responsibilities include enhancing the capability of principals to ensure a stronger understanding and awareness of their maintenance, ESM, and OHS requirements, and reducing their administrative load by assisting them in completing these obligations. This support is achieved by helping schools to prioritise, plan, and undertake facilities and asset management activities, and manage their health and safety obligations.

Additionally, Coordinators will make referrals for assistance to other areas of the VSBA and OHS as required, advise and make recommendations to senior management for process improvements, and work collaboratively with departmental regional staff, including facilities, OHS, and Emergency Management teams, to achieve desired outcomes. This role is integral to the success of the Small Schools Program and offers a unique chance to make a significant impact on the education sector in Victoria.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter. Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team.

This position is based out of the department's Swan Hill or Mildura office in the North Western Victoria Region. Regular travel to up to 20 schools in the Mallee North is a key aspect of this position, providing a direct connection to the schools the role will be supporting.

This is a fixed term, full-time role available to 30 June 2026. Part-time/job share arrangements will be considered.

Attributes

The ideal candidate has an interest in supporting a program to improve and maintain learning environment infrastructure that is safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for a great education. You are passionate about ensuring the safety and wellbeing of school communities in a supportive team environment. You understand the challenges and unique circumstances facing small schools in regional and rural areas and are committed to delivering high quality customer service and outcomes for schools. You have a high level of interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships. You can adapt to changing priorities and activities and possess the ability to provide advice to management and other key stakeholders.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in asset management, facilities maintenance and/or occupational health and safety.
• Demonstrated understanding of project/program management, including risk management.
• Outstanding organisation and administrative management skills, including extensive experience with IT systems like Microsoft applications.
• Demonstrated the abilty to establish work priorities and procedures.
• A valid Working with Children Check, or willingness to obtain one.
• A current drivers license.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria and a resume.

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. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

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.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Cristina Perra, Manager Program Delivery, Small Schools Program via email [email protected]

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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.

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 19th March 2025