Location Profile

Much like the town of Williamstown itself, Williamstown High School is steeped in a rich history. The Yalukit-willam clan of the Kulin nation were the first people to live where our two campuses are situated, and they called it "koort-boork-boork", meaning "She-oak, She-oak, many” - a reference to the abundance of She-oak trees across the Hobson’s Bay municipality. Today, the school maintains a focus on the environment with the Bayview Middle Years (7-9) Campus being located on the Port Phillip Bay waterfront, and featuring award-winning and environmentally sustainable building designs. The adjacent Jawbone Marine Sanctuary has also enabled the creation of an engaging and environmentally focused curriculum for students, that reflects the unique surroundings, and is complemented by our Marine Science program. The Pasco Later Years (10-12) Campus comprises a unique variety of architectural styles. Our oldest school building dates from 1867, and the most recent addition, our Centenary Theatre, opened in April 2017, contributing to a visually interesting and mature learning environment to meet the needs of our students as they move towards VCE studies.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS

A Williamstown High School education supports students to observe that “We are Respectful, We are Learners [and] We are Safe” - a message we have carefully crafted as a lead school in School Wide Positive Behaviours Support (SWPBS), and which is immediately visible throughout the school environment and enthusiastically supported by our 125 teachers and 30 ES Staff.

We create a dynamic learning culture that promotes integrity, innovation and the individual, and that values:

excellence and creativity in our achievements and ambitions

integrity and honesty in our actions and relationships

diversity in our curriculum, in each other and in our community

strong and open communication between our school and our homes, and between our teachers, our students and our families

a commitment to social justice and a passion to protect and improve our environment and our community

HISTORY

Williamstown High School opened as a government high school in 1915 on the Pasco Street site of the original Williamstown Borough Grammar School. The school colours - red, yellow and black - were adopted from the flag of Belgium to draw inspiration from the spirit and resilience shown by the Belgians in World War One, and the anchor in the logo was used to honour the nearby Naval Depot. The school’s maritime association continued when our motto ‘Hold Fast’ - a sailing cry encouraging commitment, determination, loyalty, strength and courage, won out over “Don’t Drift”. Today, the school caters for more than 1480 students from years 7 to 12 on two campuses that are a ten-minute walk apart. The Bayview Street Middle Years Campus is built on the site of the former Point Gellibrand Girls’ Secondary College which it merged with in 2000. The Pasco Street Later Years Campus is housed in several heritage buildings, including the original 1867 Williamstown Borough Grammar School block. Centenary celebrations and strong community support has delivered a state-of-the-art 300 seat theatre to the campus, completing Stage One of the Performing Arts Centre of Excellence facilities.

OUR UNIQUE OFFERINGS

In addition to co-educational home groups, the school offers a Select Entry Accelerated Learning program, an International Students’ program and a dynamic and growing STEM/STEAM culture where our students engage in Robotics and other technologies that are fast-becoming essential areas of need and development as the twenty-first century progresses. We also offer an Accelerated Sports program which includes triathlon, netball, soccer, basketball, cricket and lacrosse. Our excellent Music Program includes multiple Concert/Stage Bands and Guitar/Vocal Ensembles, in addition to Classroom and VET Music Programs. Our ensembles perform regularly, including at Generations in Jazz, the Victorian State Band Championships and numerous other local and interstate events. Our very special and iconic ‘Warchild’ concert also showcases the incredible talents of our young people and staff working together at this annual event.

While Williamstown High School is proud to perform strongly in NAPLAN, VCE Study Scores and ATAR results, we are most proud when we can help our diverse community of students grow, and that means from whatever position they are starting from. Our Literacy and Numeracy initiatives, community connections, care for our students’ wellbeing and the wellbeing of their learning, and attention to the pathways they will embark upon after moving on from us, means our focus on students’ growth and opportunities is targeted and ongoing, so that they can become their best selves. We encourage you to apply to join our special community, where we will warmly welcome you to contribute to the education and success of our young people.

For more information, please visit the school website at: http://www.willihigh.vic.edu.au/

Selection Criteria

Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.

Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.

Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.

Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.

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

Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

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 and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities

Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and

Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

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 the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources

Responsibilities

Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.

Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.

Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.

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

Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

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

Who May Apply

Required

Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:

For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA

For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health

For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers

For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA

For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

Demonstrated direct counselling experience

A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.

For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

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

For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.

For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).

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