Education Support Officer

Location Profile

School Vision:

All Children Can and Will Achieve

Values:

Lakes Entrance Primary School community values:

                        * Mutual Respect - Always treat others as you would like to be treated

                        * Persistence - Keep on trying and never give up

                        * Success - Always strive to achieve our goals

                        * Belonging - We value and accept each other

Description: 

Lakes Entrance Primary School has a current student population of 244 and services the coastal township of Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland. It is the only state primary school in the town with five other smaller government primary schools within 20kms. The local Secondary College is within walking distance.

Lakes Entrance is where Australia's largest inland network of waterways, the Gippsland Lakes, meets the Southern Ocean. Living, working and being educated in the beautiful seaside township, snuggled between the mountains and the edge of the Ninety Mile Beach provides inspiration, serenity and a community where strong relationships are forged.

The outlook is picturesque, the climate is "Mediterranean" and the opportunities are without bound.

The town is 320kms east of Melbourne, with Bairnsdale the major "city" thirty minutes to the west.

The school community is diverse and inclusive, acceptance of difference underpins the school community values.

School Facilities:

Modern buildings provide open, spacious and well-resourced learning areas. Each classroom is equipped with new furniture, computers and interactive whiteboards. There is an Art room, STEM, Music room and Cooking room. There is also a large library which houses extensive teaching and learning resources and a large undercover area which provides outdoor shelter and shade. Well maintained large, grassy school grounds provide an attractive setting.

School Programs:

Underlying all school programs is the aim to provide a stimulating and challenging learning environment to meet the needs of all students. The last strategic plan focussed on developing the capacity of all teachers to improve their impact on student learning. Utilising the Highly Reliable Literacy Strategies, Numeracy strategies, developing a more robust Performance and Development Culture, developing our Educational Leadership, adapting Whole School Approaches and creating an orderly learning and social environment for our students were the focus.

The teaching in classroom is underpinned by a strong focus on Effective Teaching and embedding the Highly Reliable Literacy Strategies into our classroom teaching and learning.

Specialist programs are offered in STEM, The Visual Arts, Physical Education, Outdoor Education Program and a Garden and Cooking program. ICT skills are enhanced via use of classroom computers, Interactive Whiteboards and iPads.

Evidence of our commitment to outdoor education can be seen through the highly valued sequential camping program beginning with a grade 2 sleepover, and leading to Environmental camps, High Country experiences, urban camps to Melbourne, and the Corringle experience which involves yachting, canoeing and water sports. Our classroom teaching and learning program is supported by a strong outdoor program based around traditional school sports and water sports. As the school as located in the centre of town, there is ready access to many local sporting facilities including an indoor swimming pool, football, soccer, cricket, netball, basketball, sailing and surf lifesaving. Students participate in special sporting activities throughout the year through School Sports Program.

Community Engagement: 

Our school considers education as a partnership. Student participation in the wider school community is fostered, encouraged, recognised and rewarded in our civic citizenship award ceremonies and through Junior Rotary Community awards.

Student leadership is actively promoted in the school with the "official" student leaders self-nominating and undergoing an extensive process. The school welcomes parent and community participation in all aspects of school operations.

Selection Criteria

SC1  Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2  Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3  Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4  Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5  Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6  A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role

[Attendance requirement 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:

• 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.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• 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.
• 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

Responsibilities may include:

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
• Supports communication between teachers and parents
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
• Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
• 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
• Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
• Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

Diversity and Inclusion

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 marrung@education.vic.gov.au

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.

Child Safe Standards

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

DE Values

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

Conditions of Employment

• 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