Background
As part of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan, education is identified as a key focus area and funding is available to employ School Community Liaison Officers in school communities with high populations of African young people to improve their connection to education and provide tailored support.
The School Community Liaison Officer at Lyndale Secondary College will support your school community and a cluster of neighbouring schools with high populations of African young people to increase school engagement, strengthen partnerships with families and community and facilitate activities to increase retention and school completion.
This role will be one of eight School Community Liaison Officers appointed to school communities with high populations of African young people across the State and supported by a Senior Program Officer appointed by the Department of Education Training (DET) and operating from the DET central office in Melbourne.
Location
The School Community Liaison Officer will be located at Lyndale Greens and Dandenong North Primary schools and will work in partnership with Lyndale Secondary College.
Lyndale Secondary College, the host school, is a large Years 7-12 single campus educational provider with a student population of 850. Serving our local community since 1961, we are extremely proud of our leading-edge educational practice, exceptional pathway management for all students, and our strength through cultural diversity.
As part of our dedication to providing the very best outcomes for all students, we offer VCE/VM, as well as English as a Second Language, Intervention, Numeracy and Literacy support programs. The College also provides a Select Entry Learning Programs (SEAL) which allows talented students to explore their academic potential in a challenging and supportive environment.
Our staff are dedicated to providing our students with the best-practice teaching and learning, and are supported to be their best professionally and personally. Teachers collaborate to create engaging environments for students, including the use of team-teaching, cross-curricular approaches, community projects and peer observation.
Over 40% of the school population was born outside Australia in 67 different countries, and 64 different languages at home, providing our students with a rich experience of cultural awareness and immersion. Our Performing Arts program is second to none and provides our students with opportunities to participate at the very highest level.
Our students' voices are heard strongly through our student voice program and the many leadership opportunities. At Lyndale we listen to our students to strengthen our College, they are our greatest asset.
The College has nearly completed a comprehensive rebuild program which has seen new state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces created including a STEM Centre, Technology/Arts Hub, Aviation and VR Centre, extensively resourced library and our world-class Performing Arts Theatre.
Lyndale has a long and proud history of students achieving professional success in a wide range of careers such as in medicine, law, commerce, business, emergency services, sciences and on the sporting field.
Note: This postion is based in two cluster primary schools; Lyndale Greens Primary School and Dandenong North Primary School. It is one day per week in each location totalling 15.2 hours per week.
1.Provide support to school communities they are working with to establish and maintain communication between young people, families and the local community
2. Work directly with groups of young people or individuals, planning interventions to ensure young people are connected to an education
3. Work directly with young people to provide platforms for student voice, facilitate leadership opportunities and facilitate activities that aligns with their needs
4. Facilitate information sessions for parents to support an increased understanding of the education system and platforms and increase engagement with parent teacher nights, information days and school 5. celebrations
5. Facilitate professional learning for school staff on cultural responsiveness and safety coordinate workshops and forums for the school and local community
6. Facilitate access to homework clubs and afterschool programs, to offer support and mentoring outside of the school
7. Support school leaders with the rollout of the cultural competency framework and other activities aimed at strengthening inclusivity for diverse communities
8. Participate in a statewide community of practices and statewide planning days with other School Community Liaison Officers
Suitably qualified persons of African Heritage.
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
- It is desirable that the successful applicant has a relevant tertiary qualification in community development, education, social work or equivalent
- 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
- 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
Selection Criteria
Experience working with school communities, families and community organisations involving individuals of culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds.
Excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills including the ability to partner with and broker support from local community organisations
Ability to build strong working relationships with parents and local community organisations to identify best practice and areas for improvement to support student and parent engagement.
Excellent time management and organisational skills
Ability to work as part of a statewide team and embrace a community of practice approach
Ability to write high quality documentation in support of improved student outcomes and school processes.
Ability to work within school structures and frameworks as part of a multidisciplinary team.
