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

SC1 Demonstrated understanding of common approaches, policies, and research relating to student mental health, wellbeing, and engagement.
SC2 Experience in the delivery of professional therapeutic interventions for students in response to an identified need.
SC3 Demonstrated ability in the delivery of student and family wellbeing services in a relevant setting and, preferably experience working with schools in the area of student wellbeing
SC4 Demonstrated ability to provide information, advice and support to teachers and families responsible for the management of students experiencing challenges that are impacting on their learning outcomes.
SC5 Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively, as part of a team and network with the wide range of people within the education and wider community.

Role

Range 4 is distinguished by broader management responsibility, particularly in the areas of finance, human resource and other support functions. Range 4 is responsible for managing a range of functions under a wide range of conditions, subject to the size and complexity of school operations.

Objectives will, generally, be clearly defined; guidelines will be broad and day-to-day direction minimal. Management responsibility extends to ensuring appropriate support levels are maintained across the school. Range 4 generally provides key support and timely advice to the leadership team and school council and liaises with the general school community, the Department and other government agencies and service providers.

Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee's position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

The Student Wellbeing Coordinator will work as a member of the Student Engagement and Wellbeing Team (SEWT) to plan, implement and review the engagement and wellbeing areas of the Annual Implementation Plan.

The Student Wellbeing Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

work alongside Homegroup Teachers, Year Level Coordinators to gauge the wellbeing needs of all students at the campus

work as part of the Student Engagement and Wellbeing Team (SEWT) to provide feedback and resources for the Homegroup program so we can be proactive in addressing student needs

work alongside the Wellbeing Team to allocate student referrals in an appropriate way, so that all wellbeing needs can be met

undertake the required DET steps to manage and report incidents - i.e. student sexual offending, domestic violence - and support others to do so

initiate, explore and secure alternate temporary or longer-term education settings for students, as needed

work with Year Level Coordinators to ensure Wellbeing Support Plans, for students with a mental health diagnosis or similar, are developed and implemented

organise applications to support student wellbeing needs with groups outside the school, i.e. Western Chances

work with the SEWT to ensure IEPs are developed and implemented for students for which IEPs are mandatory, including students in Out of Home Care (OoHC)

support Inclusive Education Coordinators and Year Level Coordinators at student support group (SSG) meetings as appropriate

work with Inclusive Education Coordinators and Curriculum Leader to lead Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority VCAA Special Provision for students, as required, and special provision for Year 9-12 students as appropriate

liaise with DET SSS team to engage appropriate support for students and to address mandatory and legal obligations, i.e. under the Equal Opportunity Act 202, Child Safe Standards and Mandatory Reporting

Providing counselling and guidance to students, who may be self-referred, Year Level Coordinator referred, or parent referred. Cases requiring professional counselling or treatment should be referred to the Mental Health Practitioner or an appropriate agency with prior agreement of the student and parent

Providing referrals to external agencies and services as necessary and with the student and parent's knowledge and consent, where age appropriate

Arranging meetings of relevant teachers and liaising with external providers to plan and implement strategies to support the wellbeing of students

Providing appropriate staff with information relevant and necessary to support the wellbeing and education of students experiencing difficulties

Working with staff to develop positive College programs to foster the wellbeing of all students

Assisting in the implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviours

Organising meetings and liaising with and supporting those members of the College community responsible for meeting the educational requirements of students with economic difficulties

Providing support and assistance when relevant, in conjunction with other relevant staff, to:

new students to the College

students preparing to leave the College

students experiencing difficulties at school, at home or in the community

Acting as an advocate for students and / or as a resource for parents

Liaising with parents and keeping parents informed of their child's wellbeing issues, within the limits of confidentiality

When a student attends counselling record on Compass

Completing a file on each student being seen

Undertakes administrative procedures associated with:

delivery of various counselling, wellbeing and therapeutic services to a school(s)

delivery of wellbeing education and promotion programs in collaboration with school community

provision of follow-up service for students

medical alerts and specific medical conditions

Create and issue headphone and out of class passes

Assist in the implementation of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) and the Building Respectful Relationships (BRR) programs

Supporting students to ensure they have the correct equipment for learning.

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