University High School is a large inner-city secondary school, catering to the local area including Parkville, Carlton, North Melbourne and the Melbourne CBD. The school has a rich and proud history of providing outstanding educational opportunities to its unique and diverse local community, which represents a wide range of language, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Our students are the heart and soul of our school, and enrolment growth has been rapid over the past five years. In 2026 we have over 2000 students enrolled. All Year 9 students are based at the newly opened Lonsdale St campus for their entire program, and up to 150 Year 11 and 12 students are enrolled in the specialist science program, Elizabeth Blackburn Sciences (EBS). This is a select-entry program, but UHS itself is a neighbourhood, not a select-entry, school. UHS is also the host school for the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC), the first of the state-wide Science Centres, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
In 2025, the school is in the fourth year of its Strategic Plan and revised leadership structure. This Strategic Plan has had a focus on developing consistent, collaborative and whole-school practices to support strong student-teacher relationships and connection to school; and to enhance student learning growth through responsive and explicit teaching. This has led to the development of new, whole school frameworks for both relationships and engagement (using BSEM and SWBPS) and for teaching and learning.
The school's values were redefined in 2022. They are:
- Curiosity: We are open to new ideas about the world and each other. We seek to learn, explore and understand.
- Kindness: We treat each other and our world with respect, humanity and empathy.
- Excellence: We uphold high standards, challenging ourselves to grow in all we do. We persevere and show resilience to be our best.
- Connection: We know that we are stronger together. We work to ensure that all belong equally in our community.
Students are expected to engage with all aspects of the formal curriculum and recognition is given to both outstanding achievement and to positive participation and improvement. The co-curricular program caters for a wide range of student interests and abilities and student participation at all levels is fostered. Student voice and leadership is embraced within the school and at all levels through a variety of forums.
The school's curriculum encompasses the breadth of Domain learning areas with students undertaking a wide range of subjects. Year 7 and 8 provide a solid foundation in all learning areas; whilst Year 9 students combine a year-long standard curriculum program with opportunities for guided thematic inquiry and community engagement. Students in Years 10-12 access an elective program with a rich choice of subjects including VCE, VCE-VM and VET.
Staff work in collaborative teams through domains, program areas and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). A wide range of professional development opportunities, in both internal and external contexts, are available to all staff.
SC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.
SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth
SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.
Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.
The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.
Duties and Responsibilities:
CURRICULUM
- Lead the teaching team in the design, documentation and evaluation of appropriate courses of study which support students to demonstrate all relevant learning outcomes and achieve in the VCE and VCE-VM programs.
- Develop processes for identifying, recording and disseminating information on student learning differences in Domain subjects and develop appropriate strategies to address these.
- Manage the effective delivery of courses and units within the Domain.
- Monitor the operation of assessment and reporting strategies appropriate to the Domain.
- Evaluate programs annually and prepare a plan for the following year which includes professional development priorities and is reflective of The University High School Strategic Plan Goals.
- Ensure electronic and printed resources are updated to contain current Domain information and reflect the on-going curriculum initiatives and developments associated with The Victorian Curriculum and VCE Study Designs.
- Analyse and evaluate Domain results in the VCE and work with teaching teams to improve in identified areas of concern.
- Actively contribute to Domain Heads meetings, providing reports to, and gathering feedback from, the teaching team.
STAFF MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
- Advise on the deployment of staff in the Domain.
- Support emerging staff in their development and recommend appropriate professional learning.
- Conduct regular meetings of all Domain staff, promote examples of exemplary practice by staff, and maintain records of the meetings.
- Establish and monitor collaborative practice of professional learning teams as required.
- Encourage individuals to take active roles in Domain activities and to seek professional development opportunities appropriate to Domain and personal needs.
STUDENT MANAGEMENT
- Promote the Domain through the organisation and encouragement of student participation in co-curricular activities appropriate to the Domain.
- Prepare Curriculum documents and information for Sub School handbooks and website.
- Attend Open Day and Parent Information Evenings as required.
- Encourage the display a variety of student work in classrooms and other suitable areas.
RESOURCES
- Manage a Program Budget for the Domain.
- Maintain current resources and develop new resources to support Curriculum programs.
- Prepare booklists.
LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERSHIP
- Work with the School Leadership Team to develop and implement school Strategic Plan and AIP goals.
- Actively participate as a member of the School Leadership Team, including through Leadership Team meetings, Staff Meetings, School Events and modelling of inclusive and participatory leadership behaviours.
OTHER DUTIES AS REQUIRED BY THE PRINCIPAL
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for 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
Selection process
The selection process will include a written application addressing the Learning Specialist Key Selection Criteria, an interview, and a presentation.
Responses to KSC should be no more than 2 pages per criteria, and no smaller than 10pt font.
Applicants should include an up-to-date CV.
Please include e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers for at least 3 referees.
Contact and tour
Questions can be directed to the Principal, Nick Scott on 0439 003 368
A tour for prospective applicants will be held at 4.00pm - 5.00pm on Monday August 31 at the Story St campus.
Bookings for this tour should be directed to Surianti at [email protected]
- 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
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:
- The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
- if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and
- a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements (this condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian ITE program completed by the person).
Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found at Recruitment in Schools.
