Yarra Ranges Special Developmental School (YRSDS) provides quality education programs for school-aged students 5-18 with a moderate to profound intellectual disability, many students also have additional impairments, including sensory, physical and/or autism spectrum disorder.
Additionally, Our Early Education Program supports pre-school children aged between 2 years eight months and 4 years 8 months with developmental delay in two or more areas. Students must meet the state-wide eligibility criteria to attend YRSDS and are enrolled in accordance with the school's documented enrolment policy. Furthermore, all students at YRSDS are entitled to a Disability Inclusion Profile, which will outline the specific level of adjustments needed for each student to effectively access the curriculum.
YRSDS is a purpose-built facility staffed by specialists dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our students. The school is organised into four sections: Early Education, Lower Primary, Upper Primary, and Secondary, each overseen by a member of the leadership team. This team includes a School Principal, two Assistant Principals, and several specialised staff members, such as a Leading Teacher, two Learning Specialists, an Inclusion Outreach Coach, a School-wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) Team Leader, a Therapy Team Leader, and an Education Support Leader. All working together to drive the school¿s vision and educational initiatives.
To address the medical needs of our students, we employ two registered nursing staff who also provide health training for all school personnel.
At YRSDS, we have a shared belief that all students are entitled to access the same learning experiences as their age- equivalent peers. All learning experiences for students aged 5 to 15 are designed according to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 at age-appropriate levels. For our Early Education Program, we utilise the Victorian Early Years Developmental Framework, while our secondary students, aged 15 to 18 in their final three years, currently participate in an adapted program based on the Victorian Pathways Certificate. Our secondary students also have opportunities to develop recreation and work-related skill.
Individual student goals are collaboratively developed with families and/or caregivers, ensuring alignment with developmentally appropriate achievement standards from the relevant curriculum.
All students at YRSDS have an individualised Education Plan with key goals that are created in conjunction with the student, their parents/ carers and the teaching and therapy teams. Our workforce includes exceptionally skilled Teachers, Therapists (Speech, Occupational, and Physiotherapy), Mental Health Practitioners, Education Support Staff, Specialist Teachers and a Family support Co-ordinator. Utilising a multi-disciplinary approach, we provide ongoing and extensive adjustments to ensure that all students can engage safely and positively in their education.
Our school's philosophy emphasises the belief that all children learn best in a happy, challenging, and supportive environment. Teaching and learning at YRSDS is child-centred, with a focus on fostering independence.
Our instructional approach is based on Communication, School Wide Positive Behaviour Support and Structuring Functional Independence. Our vision is to build independence through active learning and our school values for the whole school community are:
Be Respectful.
Be Responsible.
Be Safe
These values are integral to all school policies and practices and are reinforced through positive partnerships with students, staff, parents, caregivers, volunteers, and the broader community.
Curriculum design and delivery is enhanced by the expertise of a committed and caring multi-disciplinary staff. The teacher to student ratio enables smaller classes (6-10 students) with education support staff working alongside the teacher, ensuring individualised support for all students.
We are proud to have achieved gold accreditation for School-wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and Platinum 2025.
We also host the internationally acclaimed MeTV, our onsite television broadcasting service. MeTV enhances our students' learning opportunities and contributes to our curriculum in a fun, interactive way. Information Communication Technology is embedded into student learning throughout the school.
The greatest strength of our school is a culture of warmth, inclusivity, and empathy. We actively foster partnerships among parents, students, staff, caregivers, volunteers, and the wider community, creating an environment that benefits every child.
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.
SC7 Demonstrated capacity to support students with behaviours of concern using a school wide positive behaviour framework.
Hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, 5 days per week.
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.
Responsibilities may include:
- Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
- Supports communication between teachers and parents
- Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
- Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
- Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
- Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
- Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
- Supports teachers in the coordination of educational programs independently or under minimal supervision, including rostering and organising the work of a team of aides, providing routine co-ordination, guidance, and support to other student support staff, liaising with external providers of support services about clearly defined support needs and resources, assisting teachers with the communication of student outcomes and educational programs
- Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
- Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille
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
Hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, 5 days per week.
- 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
