Pakenham Secondary College is a Year 7-12 College located within the Cardinia Shire on Melbourne¿s South East fringe. The school now serves a large and diverse community within a designated urban growth corridor.
The College is committed to providing all students with learning opportunities designed to develop socially responsible citizens and build pathways to their futures. We are committed to continuous improvement. We value growth through connection.
The key values that underpin all our work at the College is based around the acronym SOAR.
S ocial and personal responsibility
This means everyone is accountable for their own actions and share responsibility for the development of a positive learning environment.
O pportunities for all
This means that all members of the school community are provided with a variety of learning opportunities to further develop themselves and participate in the decision-making process of the school.
A chieving personal best
This means there is an expectation that all members of the school community commit to a culture of excellence.
R espectful relationships
This means that the school recognises the importance of productive relationships, with all members of the school community showing respect for themselves, others and the environment.
The school community has become increasingly diverse with students from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds creating a diverse school population. It is anticipated that student enrolment numbers will be approximately 1250 in 2027.
We are a great school offering outstanding opportunities to our students in the areas important to our College Community:
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Learning growth and pathways
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Sport
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Performing Arts
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Student Leadership and our Community.
The curriculum across Years 7 and 8 is based around a core plus elective model. Students in Years 9 and 10 combine their core subjects with more elective choices in areas of interest to them. Year 10 students also have the opportunity to access a VET or VCE subject. Senior students are able to access the VCE (VCE, VCE Vocational Major and the Victorian Pathways Certificate) and a variety of VET courses and School Based Apprenticeships. The school is committed to supporting students in achieving at least one qualification upon the completion of their Secondary Education.
The school recently completed a new Strategic Plan (2025) which is focused on improving student learning and wellbeing. Key Improvement Strategies include:
Strengthen the Professional Learning Communities approach through collaborative inquiry, improved use of data, feedback and peer coaching.
Develop, implement and embed a whole school approach to formative and summative assessment.
Audit, adjust, monitor and embed the instructional model aligned to the VTLM 2.0.
Embed multi-tiered systems of support that enhance student wellbeing, engagement, and inclusion.
Enhance student voice and agency, a sense of belonging and school pride across the school community.
The College has recently received $11.3 million in funding as part of a Capitol Works Program with works commencing in 2024 - the Program will be completed by the end of 2026.
Our College has also further developed its International Student Program. We view our International Students Program as a further means of adding to our already rich Cultural diversity at the College.
Pakenham Secondary College strives to implement the Child Safe Standards as outlined in Ministerial Order No.870 to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students at the College and promote an organisational culture that manages the risk of child abuse and neglect. The school has developed policies and procedures specifically aimed at keeping children safe.
"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 the Child Safe Standards. The school's Child Safety Code of Conduct is available on the school's website"
The school's preference is for the successful candidate to work over 5 days per week with a start time of 8.30 a.m. and finish time of 4.30p.m. on afternoons where there are Meetings (typically, Mondays and Tuesdays are our Meeting Days through the week).
SC1 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, school staff and external parties.
SC2 A willingness to be fully involved in the school community and the ability to develop and initiate programs to support Koorie students.
SC3 Ability to liaise with students, families and key stakeholders and develop strong working relationships.
SC4 Work with key staff in the development of cultural specific programs and activities.
Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.
Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.
This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.
An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee's position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
Provide support in and out of the class to assist Koorie students to complete a range of tasks.
Monitor student's attendance and liaise with key staff to develop strategies to address disengagement.
Actively engage in Pakenham Secondary College's case management processes
Actively monitor and report on Koorie student attendance, behaviour, engagement and wellbeing.
Utilise IEPs to support engagement of students.
Provide tiered supports for Koorie students which may include:- Check ins with students/families, Home visits as required, via school policy.
Engage students and families with additional supports.
Attending student support group, (SSG), meetings.
Attending return to school meeting to support a re-engagement plan.
Link with teachers to support students in class as per outcomes of SSG or IEP Implementation and delivery of targeted programs for students (e.g., small group programs)
Build relationships with families and community to support student's engagement in their educational journey.
Organise and attend parent/teacher meetings to discuss student's progress and emerging issues.
Liaise with student support team to refer students for wellbeing support and work with wellbeing staff to link students and families into a range of external supports and programs.
Support activities that enhance cultural understanding for all staff.
Liaise with Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO) Support cultural inclusion activities and assist in their development (e.g., NAIDOC Week).
Support students to have a platform for student voice for ongoing cultural activities
Proactively support family/community engagement activities.
Work together with external stakeholders to support Koorie students with their engagement and transitions to other educational pathways.
Support the transition activities, including family engagement activities.
Maintain a directory of support services i.e., community contacts.
Create a positive culture of belonging, care, high expectations and learning within their team and the College
Provide high level support to the Assistant Principal responsible for Koorie students.
Proactively build a positive working relationship with all other Education Support staff.
Attend and actively contribute to relevant meetings and events.
Support and encourage staff to share ideas, strategies and resources.
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
Successful applicant will be required to work 1.5 days at Pakenham Secondary College and 1 day at Edenbrook Secondary College.
