Dandenong Valley SDS is a specialist school located in Narre Warren Victoria. We cater for students with moderate to severe intellectual disability who may also have physical impairments, medical needs, sensory needs and autism spectrum disorder. The school was built in 1990 with an addition of a purpose built BER building in 2012 and a new senior school and specialist teaching spaces built in 2024. School facilities include a PMP room, sensory garden, horticulture centre, bike track, fitness room, engine room and sensory room, generous sized classrooms and stimulating play spaces. All students participate in weekly water familiarisation, safety and swimming sessions in the Hydrotherapy pool.
Students at our school range in age from 5 -18 years of age and we also have an Early Education Program which caters for children from 2.8 - 4.8 years. The three year olds attend this program one day a week and the four year olds attend two days a week.
Students in their last two years of schooling participate in senior transition programs. The aim of these programs is to provide students with a diverse range of age appropriate learning experiences in preparation for post school options and adult life.
School Vision: Our vision for Dandenong Valley SDS is to achieve excellence in learning and teaching and provide the best outcomes for each of its students.
Mission Statement: Dandenong Valley SDS endeavours to equip students with the capacities to manage themselves and their relations with others, understand their world and act effectively in that world.
Our Values are: Integrity, Respect and Responsibility
Dandenong Valley SDS is a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour community. This Framework is fully embedded across the school and enables us to promote a happy positive learning environment for all. Our school rules are explicitly taught across all areas of the curriculum and the school. The rules are;
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Be responsible
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Be respectful
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Be a learner
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Be safe
Our Special Education programs are fully supported by a therapy team which consists of speech therapists, occupational therapists, a physiotherapist and music therapist. The role of the therapy team is to support the students to enable them to access their educational program. Therapists also work in close collaboration with teachers to ensure individual goals are achieved by all students.
Student Individual learning goals are based on our strategic plan priorities which are;
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The need to develop a functional communication system.
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The need to develop their independence skills
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The need to develop their social and emotional learning competencies.
These areas are the most important for our students and their families. Without these basic skills our students cannot engage in meaningful activities, nor reach their full potential.
Dandenong Valley SDS is committed to child safety. Our school actively promotes the safety and wellbeing of all students, including the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities and vulnerable children. 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.
At Dandenong Valley SDS we provide programs that cater for individual needs, interests and abilities of our students. The school's curriculum is based on The Victorian Curriculum Foundation Levels A-D). In addition, we offer a range of specialised programs that occur within the school environment or out in the local community.
These include:
Perceptual motor program, swimming (in our purpose built hydrotherapy pool), community access, social emotional learning program, bike education, interschool sports, performing arts, STEM, visual arts, PE and camps.
SC1 A proven ability to work with children with a disability in a positive and caring way.
SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work co-operatively and communicate effectively within a team environment with a wide range of individuals including teachers, other support staff, therapists, parents and students.
SC3 Demonstrated experience and or willingness to give physical assistance with personal care/self-care responsibilities.
SC4 A preparedness to work with students who might exhibit challenging behaviours across all areas of the school.
Attendance during the school vacation period is not required 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:
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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.
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Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
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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.
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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:
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Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
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Supports communication between teachers and parents
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Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
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Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
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Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
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Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
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Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
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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
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Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
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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
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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
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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
