Broadmeadows Special Developmental School is located in the vibrant community of Broadmeadows in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The school is easily accessible by car and public transport, with buses and trains stopping at Broadmeadows Station, just a four-minute walk from the school.
The school is a modern purpose-built facility and provides an attractive and safe environment. Learning areas include well-equipped classrooms, dedicated specialist spaces and outdoor learning zones. The school has 2 sites, the main campus in Dimboola Rd and a Sorrento Street campus with students attending from a wide geographical and diverse socio-economic background. Students attend school daily from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Curriculum
Programs are delivered within Department of Education guidelines and reflect the Victorian Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on the development of programs that address individual student needs, through Individual Learning Plans.
Our pedagogical approach is informed by evidence-based teaching practice. An explicit, evidence-based synthetic phonics program that systematically teaches children to read (Little Learners Loves Literacy) has been implemented over 10 years and has resulted in improved student outcomes. Collaborative curriculum planning, aligned to the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0, the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and the Science of Learning, is the current focus for strengthening whole school teaching and learning approaches across the school.
Broadmeadows SDS Educational goals and priorities are reviewed every six months. Class groups are comprised of 6-8 students, with a teacher and teacher assistant, to ensure a safe and effective learning environment, where individuals are respected and self-esteem and dignity are strongly advocated. The school has a trans-disciplinary approach to student learning with input from educators, therapists and parents. Teachers case conference students with their allocated Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist each week.
Our school philosophy is reflected in its programs and based on the belief that children learn best in a co-operative environment that is happy, challenging, supportive and non-threatening. Broadmeadows SDS has a School Wide Positive Learning Program and has developed a school culture that is reflected by the ideals of positive behaviour support. Assessment is based on Individual Learning Plan goals.
An emphasis is placed on students attaining skills and knowledge that they will use as young adults when graduating at 18 years of age.
Working at Broadmeadows SDS:
Class sizes range from five to eight students, with each class supported by a teacher and an Education Support Officer (ESO). Some classes are larger and have team teachers, where two teachers co-teach in the classroom. Teachers are provided with planning each week to collaborate with their section teams on developing high-quality unit planners and weekly programs.
Staff are supported by a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, who work alongside educators to meet each students individual needs. Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work within classrooms to collaborate on programs.
The school is staffed with classroom teachers, specialist teachers, literacy specialists, teacher assistants, occupational therapists, speech therapists and physiotherapists. The school accesses additional support through the Visiting Teacher Services for Hearing and Vision Impairment and a school psychologist. Current staffing includes over 180 staff including a team of 40 plus therapists.
A Commitment to Excellence
Broadmeadows Special Developmental School delivers a knowledge-rich curriculum through explicit, evidence-based instruction. We dedicate significant time to building strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, particularly through the Big 6 of Reading, oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
We have a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), embedding a targeted approach to both learning and wellbeing.
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.
Working hours. Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 4.36 pm
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, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.
- Provide routine clerical or other administrative support responsibilities including general telephone, front office enquiries, mail deliveries, assisting with stock control, supporting organisation of meetings, receiving and initial processing of standard paperwork
- Maintain, enter and retrieve data from the schools IT systems, such as the school's records system, including computerised student, staff and school records
- Maintain and update office records, enrolment data, diary records, and basic written records
- Support or coordinate the preparation of standard routine internal and external communication according to school procedures (e.g. form letters, newsletters)
- Source basic data or factual information from given sources to support school administrative functions, e.g. books, reports, manuals, catalogues, tables, forms, etc.
- Coordinate the delivery of administrative services within the school
- In consultation with the principal, determine and manage work priorities within the school office
- Develop and implement strategies to ensure effective administration procedures
- Coordinate the implementation of requisitioning, purchasing and issuing procedures
- Manage client reception and office operations
- Liaise with school staff in regard to support requirements
- Coordinate staff timetabling
- Undertakes VASS and/or VET administration support
- Supports the first aid facilities and assists in delivering first aid to students
Assist with student transition from main reception to classroom as required
Maintain a tidy and organised workspace
Other duties as directed by the Principal and/or Business Manager. These may include but not limited to; Banking, Post, Ordering, assisting in displaying important notices, stepping into other roles
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
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 (see Workplace 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 [email protected]
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.
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
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
- 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