Role Context
Occupational Therapy (OT) at Manor Lakes P-12 College is within the Allied Health Team, and comprises of a Senior Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor, Speech Pathologist and Allied Health Assistants, who provide assessment and intervention across the College. Led by the Senior Psychologist, the multidisciplinary team aims to improve student learning, wellbeing and participation in school life. The Allied Health Team focus is in identifying and addressing barriers to learning through specialised assessments, interventions, and building the capability of school staff to implement inclusive, sensory-friendly practices.
Role Purpose
The role of the Occupational Therapist is to ensure the provision of high quality, evidence-based care including consultative and direct clinical services to primary and secondary aged students. It includes the responsibility for the assessment of individual and school-based services to students, provision of clinical guidance and supervision to allied health assistants, and delivery of professional learning and educational material for staff and/or families. Consultation with other wellbeing, inclusion and allied health programs, and fostering relationships with other internal and external stakeholders will be required. The role includes undertaking managerial support duties as delegated by the Senior Psychologist.
Key Responsibilities
Assessment & Intervention: Conduct occupational therapy assessments to identify sensory, motor, organisational, and functional needs impacting student participation and devise adjustments and programs as required. Provision of written and verbal reports where appropriate. Maintain records and relevant documentation.
Targeted Support: Design and implement individual or small-group interventions (Tier 2 and 3) to boost student engagement and independence.
Sensory Regulation: Support the implementation of sensory strategies, including the use of sensory rooms, movement breaks, and environmental adjustments to help students regulate.
Collaboration & Consultation: Partner with teachers, families, and external professionals to support student needs, contributing to Disability Inclusion Profiles (DIPs) and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Establish links with local paediatric OTs and relevant OT networks.
Capacity Building: Provide professional learning and coaching for school staff on sensory processing, regulation, and inclusion strategies. Maintain OT resources in conjunction with the Allied Health Team. Contribute to the development of school policies and procedures which relate to OT services, planning and delivery.
Multi-disciplinary Teamwork: Collaborate with other school-based allied health staff (e.g., psychologists, speech pathologists) to provide comprehensive support across the College.
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
Qualifications & Skills
Essential:
Hold an OT degree qualification or equivalent from an accredited course / university.
Be registered with AHPRA and as such have satisfied the requirements of continuing professional development and recency of practice. Uphold the Code of Ethics, OT Australia. Undertake other professional duties and school training as required.
Post graduate qualification relevant to role at Master or PhD level (or significant completion towards)
Experience in managing, developing and enhancing services and staff in a complex, busy environment
Managing highly complex cases, conducting advanced functional and risk assessments, and providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions, ideally in a school or paediatric setting.
Strong understanding of sensory processing, motor skills development, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Excellent interpersonal skills to work with students, parents, and school staff.
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Experience and proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team. Guiding Allied Health Assistants (AHAs), and students on placement.
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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
Manor Lakes P-12 College opened in 2009 and is located in Minindee Rd, Wyndham Vale. The college currently has an enrolment of 3000 students. The enrolment is expected to stabilise and possibly decline in the primary years (additional primary schools opening in the neighbouring area) and to continue to increase at secondary level. The backgrounds of our students reflect a cultural and socio-economic diversity. The college has a Student Family Occupation (SFO) of 0.552 which indicates that there is a level of disadvantage within our community. Approximately 16% of our student population come from a language background other than English.
The vision of Manor Lakes P-12 College is `Dream, Believe, Achieve'. The college aspires to create a vibrant and harmonious community of learners who have a confident belief in their ability to learn, grow and succeed.
We strive to provide the best possible education for our students and support for our staff. The philosophy of our teaching practice is focussed on students' learning needs, and this is backed by current research about how students learn.
The College aims for an inclusive and welcoming culture for all families and students within our Designated Neighbourhood Area. We have established a number of programs and structures to provide appropriate learning environments and programs for all students including students with additional learning needs, complex and/or multiple disabilities.
The College has, and will continue to have, a relentless focus of continuous improvement in all aspects of College life, particularly focussing on improving learning outcomes for all students. All staff are members of Professional Learning Teams and School Improvement Teams which focus on using data and evidence to identify areas to improve, and will work towards achieving goals as set out in the college's Strategic Plan.
All new staff to Manor Lakes P-12 College participate in a comprehensive induction program which clearly outlines the college vision, expectations and pedagogical approaches. Regular communication with all members of the community is achieved through keeping the college website, newsletters, Facebook, Compass, face to face meetings and information sessions and forums.
Our staff are committed to enhancing their skills and developing their capacity as teachers by involving themselves in professional learning opportunities (external and internal), coaching, mentoring, and being actively involved in Professional Learning Teams and the Professional Learning Community.
The College is committed to developing, maintaining and sustaining relationships between the school and home through events such as: Open Classrooms, Celebrations of Learning, Parent Helpers, Parent Information sessions, Community Forums, Year level celebrations such as Year 12 graduation, and Performing Arts showcases.
Manor Lakes P-12 College is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision making.
Manor Lakes P-12 College has zero tolerance for child abuse.
Manor Lakes P-12 College is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.
Every person involved in Manor Lakes P-12 College has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that they wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.
