Location Profile

“Our job is not to prepare students for something, it is our job to activate our students to prepare themselves for anything.” Adapted from AJ Juliani.

Bundoora Secondary College is a year 7-12 College in a quiet residential area of Bundoora, a northern suburb of Melbourne. We are an innovative, caring school and take great pride in knowing every member of our community (both staff and students) as individuals and as learners.

The school is set on a well-developed, picturesque site adjacent to Gresswell Forest. The spacious grounds include a variety of playing fields and as our school farm continues to develop, a range of animal paddocks, productive gardens and indigenous flora plots.

Students at BSC are not bound by the traditional year level classes. The school is broken into three cohorts - a common Entry year (the traditional year 7), PACE21 (traditionally years 8-11) and Graduation year (traditionally year 12). Our broad pathways focus and the vertical structure supports students choice and provides flexibility across our learning program ensuring that all students can engage in their learning at their point of interest and be challenged at their point of need.

BSC is currently experiencing a period of strong growth as we implement our new curriculum program and pedagogical approach with a vertical structure of subject offerings across the traditional 8 – 11 years called our PACE21 (Passion and Choice, Empowerment 21st Century skills) program. This program empowers students to choose the pace of their own learning journey. Our core purpose is to provide a broad and challenging education that is future focused and will develop students' 21st Century skills, abilities and knowledge for further education, training, work and community participation.

Role

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses.

Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:

• provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health needs,

• coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required, and

• enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.

Education Support class level 1 range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit:

https: //www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Documents/VGSA-2017. Pdf

Responsibilities

1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.

3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.

4. Provide leadership and professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students' learning and developmental outcomes.

5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.

6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.

Please note: Continued professional learning is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Selection Criteria

APPLICANTS MUST HOLD SUITABLE QUALIFICATIONS LISTED UNDER "WHO MAY APPLY".

1. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.

2. Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.

3. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.

4. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.

5. Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.

6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

Who May Apply

Applicants must hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/postgraduate qualification where applicable in:

• Social Work

• Occupational Therapy

• Nursing with a Mental Health specialisation

• Psychology.

Applicants must hold full registration with the requisite professional body where applicable.

Social Work applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Applicants must be able to demonstrate direct counselling experience.

Applicants must have a current Working with Children Check Card.

It is desirable that:

Social Work applicants hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.

Mental Health Nurse applicants hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

Occupational Therapist applicants hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.

Psychology applicants have specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

DE Values

The Department's employees commit to upholding DET's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET'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 DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au

Other Information

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR APPLICATION INCLUDES:

A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home).

A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section.

Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

The Mental Health Practitioner is a full time ES1-4 position commencing on or after the 22 April 2025.

Please submit application to: https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/recruitment-online

Job Opening Number 1469301.

For further information, applicants are encouraged to contact: Travis Clark, Assistant Principal, Bundoora Secondary College. Email: [email protected]. Telephone: 03 9467 1511.

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.asgx