About the Department
The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.
About the Group
Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.
About the Role
The ongoing 1.0FTE `Senior Program Advisor - Senior Wellbeing Engagement Officer' position is now available for a suitably qualified Education, Nursing, or Allied Health professional
This role is based in the Dandenong Office and is located in the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch, Southern Melbourne Area, South Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The role reports to the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch Manager.
The primary responsibility of this role is to support schools to implement policy and identify strategies to engage young people at risk of disengagement from education. The role leads and facilitates efforts to support vulnerable children and young people and helps broker solutions for highly complex individual cases.
The successful candidate will have strong people skills and the ability to work with multiple stakeholders to support and implement government policy and programs in relation to student wellbeing, engagement and attendance.
Attributes
This successful applicant will demonstrate the following attributes and capabilities:
- leads and facilitates efforts to support vulnerable children and young people and helps broker solutions for highly complex individual cases.
- supports and builds capability of schools and stakeholders to implement government policy and programs to engage young people at risk of disengagement. This includes supporting schools to implement policy such as attendance and engagement, wellbeing, behaviour, enrolment, suspension and expulsion
- facilitates collaborative partnerships across the region, and promotes and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders including schools, area staff including health wellbeing inclusion workforces; and external community agencies, services and Departments such as the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
- contributes to the design and support of wrap around models for children and young people at risk of disengaging from education
- Demonstrates effective interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills and able to prepare high quality reports, briefing and correspondence
Qualifications and Experience
- Essential: A relevant tertiary qualification in a related field, e.g. Education, Nursing, Allied Health.
- The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check.
How to Apply
Please apply by submitting your CV, a cover letter and a response to the key selection criteria stated within the position description. To assess your application the selection panel will consider your response to the key selection criteria relevant to the role description and attributes as stated above. Please keep your response to the 4 key selection criteria within 2 pages.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page
Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.
Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact WendyMae Rapson, Acting Manager Health Wellbeing and Specialist Services via 0457 381 023 or Dana Halm Forshner, 0477 373 811 Senior Wellbeing Engagement Officer.
Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.
Applications close 11:59pm on 4th June 2026
