Lowanna is a vibrant and well-resourced Victorian Government 7-12 Secondary College with a student population of just less than one thousand. It is situated in a large, attractive setting adjacent to bushland in the township of Newborough. Lowanna College is the only secondary school in the Moe-Newborough community drawing enrolments from the local area and outlying rural townships.
Newborough is approximately 130 kilometres east of central Melbourne located in picturesque central Gippsland. The area is surrounded by rolling hills and is only an hour¿s drive to the snowfields of Mt Baw Baw and the beaches of South Gippsland. The region offers a wide variety of sporting activities and facilities such as golf, basketball, soccer, mountain bike riding and water skiing.
The College staffing profile consists of:
- 22.4 EFT Education Support staff
The College is divided into three mini schools of between 300-400 students, Junior School ¿ Years 7 & 8, Middle School -Years 9 &10 and Senior School ¿ Years 11 & 12. Each is managed by a team consisting of a Leading Teacher, a Student Advocate, a Student Support Officer and an administrative assistant who, in conjunction with all staff, are focused on the education and wellbeing of every student.
The College boasts modern facilities set in a pleasant learning and teaching environment. The College has a large Auditorium, a 2-court Gymnasium, a Language Centre, a purpose built Year 12 Centre and an onsite Wellbeing Centre for reengaging students at risk and for those who have a range of personal issues.
Lowanna offers a wide and varied curriculum and access to a vast array of extra¿curricular activities that enhance student learning and sets the College apart from other schools in the area. The curriculum includes a core program for Junior School students, a core and elective program for Middle School students and multiple options for Senior School students with VCE, VCAL and VETiS. Year 10 students are able to accelerate their learning by accessing the full range of VCE subjects in Year 10.
Students are provided with a stimulating and enriched learning environment where the Arts, Science, Technology, Physical Education and Food subjects are all key components in a student¿s learning. Further intertwined with the academic subjects are Lowanna¿s Sports Excellence Program, a newly developing Music Excellence Program, a growing International Program and a long standing Outdoor Education Program. Lowanna has been instrumental in assisting with the development of the Gippsland Technical College that provides all students from Lowanna other Latrobe Valley Schools with exposure to innovative resources and technology. Students at all year levels have access to this school.
As well as offering two languages, Italian and Indonesian, the college also has an established relationship with Melbourne University and the Confucius Classroom, hosting a Chinese teacher who works at Lowanna and local primary schools. Lowanna has strong ongoing partnerships with Monash University, Federation University and Federation Training. Students participate in a variety of programs from Year 7 to 12 that enable them to gain insights into numerous pathways.
The College has close links with the other secondary schools in the Latrobe Valley. In 2014, this group collectively established the Latrobe Valley Flexible Learning Option (LVFLO). The campus is designed to reengage students in their schooling and move back into the secondary school environment.
The entire Lowanna staff team work diligently to continue to improve outcomes for students and to maintain a strong sense of community within the College.
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.
[Attendance requirement for this position]
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
- 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
- Hours and days of work negotiable for the successful applicant
This vacancy is specifically linked to Student Support Funding and is ongoing. If the funding reduces or ceases during the first seven years of employment, employment may cease subject to the provision of at least 12 weeks’ notice.
