SC 1. 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.
SC2. 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.
SC3. 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.
SC4. Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
SC5. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
SC6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.
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
- 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).
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).
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
Wellbeing at McClelland College
The Wellbeing Team at McClelland College provides a professional service to students and their families to enhance their personal, social and educational development. Students are encouraged to have agency in improving their wellbeing by utilising early intervention supports and services. A range of referral pathways to external providers, some of whom provide onsite appointments, is available for students with more complex needs.
With an emphasis on prevention and early intervention, Wellbeing deliver a comprehensive range of data-informed and evidence-based programs, small groups and supports to promote health and wellbeing across three tiers of support.
- Tier 1. Preventative Education (whole school approach)
- Tier 2. Early-intervention (targeted-groups)
- Tier 3. Targeted Interventions (1:1 engagement and referral)
The dedicated Wellbeing space is provided to enable students access to a range of resources and staff to support their physical, social and emotional wellbeing including:
- Wellbeing Coordinators (Year 7/8, Year 9/10, Year 11/12): counselling, learning and wellbeing related supports and advocacy.
- Mental Health Practitioner (MHP): short-term counselling and other early intervention and mental health promotion initiatives.
- Adolescent Health Nurse: available for 1:1 health advice and engaged in school-wide health promotion initiatives.
- Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS): free, on-site access to a G.P. and Mental Health Nurse for medical care and advice.
- Flexible Learning at McClelland (FL@M): is a flexible learning environment (up to 4 classes per week) for students at-risk of disengaging with the mainstream curriculum.
- ACAP/Monash counselling placement students: provide short-term, solutions-focused counselling.
- Outreach Program: a transitional program to support highly disengaged young people with wellbeing and referral support while establishing pathways back to learning.
- School Lawyer Program provided by Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides education and 1:1 legal advice to students.
- Other outreaching external services such as: Counselling (Better Place and Headspace EMHSS), and a bulk-billed Psychologist service.
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
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.
Location profile:
McClelland College is a 7-12 college with a current enrolment of approx. 1100+ students. The college is well recognised as a leader in the implementation of personalised learning through what we call an `Education by Design¿ approach. We really believe in living our values of Community, Ownership and Growth.
Our decision making is all put through the lens of what is in the students¿ best interests. It's the innovative approach to teaching that sets our school apart and the passion and moral purpose of our staff that drives us to do everything we can to help each and every student. We pride ourselves on delivering education that builds professional and vocational capabilities by building on students' individual strengths.
At McClelland we support students in the exploration and development of their individual passions and talents. Key sets of relevant life-long learning skills taught throughout the McClelland Academy Program (MAP) will enable our students to be skilled in IT development, Science, Media, Business, Performing Arts and Sport.
The Elite Performance Program (and EP+) is a select entry program aimed at extending junior year students. We design our curriculum so these students are spending more time using higher-order thinking skills and developing leadership capacity. This enables students to further increase their personal learning and continue to maintain learning above the expected level for their year group. If you are teaching a student in Year 7, for example, that you
believe is capable of enrolling in a VCE unit, we want to know about it. This is Education by Design in action.
McClelland is also well-connected through collaboration and active partnerships with external organisations. To support the quality, reach and impact of our education, we constantly seek to improve teaching and learning outcomes through engagement with business and industry links.
The school has 120+ full time equivalent staff, comprising 7 principals, 84 teachers and 49 Education Support staff and we continue our commitment to ongoing improvement for the benefit of our students.
College Values
McClelland¿s College Values were derived from what students, teachers and parents thought underpinned success in life. We believe that Community and Ownership build together to support Growth.
