Head Start Co-ordinator ES 1-4 (School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships)

Location Profile

Trafalgar High School is a 7 to 12 regional high school with a student enrolment of approximately 700 students.  Of these students many travel from outside of the immediate area to make Trafalgar High School the school of their choice.  It is situated in a pleasant environment between the Strzelecki Ranges and Mount Baw Baw. Located on a large, attractive site adjacent to Trafalgar Primary School, this unique rural setting nurtures a strong school identity based on wide community support, providing a stable, caring environment in which each individual attains a sense of identity and self-worth. Many students travel to the school by bus or train from well beyond the local area.

Our vision at Trafalgar High School is to provide a caring, supportive and challenging learning environment where all students have the opportunity to achieve and develop as lifelong learners who actively participate in their community.

Trafalgar High School is dedicated to providing a valuable education that aims for excellence through creating opportunity for every student in its community.  The program offered at the school is comprehensive including a strong academic curriculum that is well balanced across the Key Learning Domains and a variety and range of extra-curricular activities that enhance learning opportunities for all students.  The commitment to learning for all students is a core belief and value at Trafalgar High School

 Our values provide the platform for all relationships and interactions within our community:

 Respect

 Effort

 Kindness

In addition, a Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program (SEALP), established in 1997, enables selected students to cover an enriched Years 7 to 10 curriculum, potentially in only three years. Many SEALP students choose to remain in this program into Year 10, however, undertaking some VCE units in the process. The school seeks to offer the broadest VCE curriculum possible each year. The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is available to Years 11 and 12 students more suited to hands on work. Aiding is available to students assessed as having learning difficulties.

The school has successive high achievement in VCE results and excellent On Track data.  Striving to meet the needs of all students whereby they can experience success through their efforts is undertaken in a learning environment where high aspiration and effort is encouraged.

Trafalgar High School is the base for the Headstart program which runs across the Gippsland schools.  Head Start is a wraparound service provision that powers school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Head Start aims to improve the outcomes, quality assurance and equitable distribution of opportunities for senior secondary and special education students who undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs). Head Start also considers middle school students¿ preparedness for success in the SBATs program. The Head Start SBAT program was piloted in over 150 schools from 2019 with strong outcomes. The expansion of the program will ensure access to all Victorian government secondary schools, including special schools, and Flexible Learning Options

A balanced approach to the development of the whole child is also of paramount importance and fundamental in the education philosophy of the school.  An ongoing focus on pedagogical practices has involved the continuing development of the schools instructional model including in this, the tenets of positive education.  Approaches through positive education are explicitly taught focusing on using strengths to succeed and approaching all opportunities with a growth mindset.  Students are supported throughout their Years 7 to 12 education in a safe and caring learning environment where the tenets of positive education, mindfulness and restorative practice form the basis of the engagement and wellbeing approaches.  A strong sense of community is also important at Trafalgar High School, with over 34 feeder primary schools links and partnerships with community and community organisations.  These are vital in building and strengthening a sense of connectedness and are evident through our partnerships with Trafalgar Youth Resource Centre, service clubs and organisations, business partners and the involvement and real input through student voice with student leaders.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in middle and senior year student career pathways and the interconnect with meaningful student outcomes
• Demonstrated capacity to engage student or industry with program models and manage program data in accordance with government and education policy
• Experience in advanced interventions in dealing with particularly complex cases that may require cross profession or industry collaboration
• Effective communication skills when engaging with various stakeholders and level of management including a commitment to the DET values
• Effective management of personal workload and motivation to deliver a program that rests across a large number of stakeholders, including student and support networks, schools and education systems, industry and workplace compliance and overarching State and Commonwealth regulations
• Demonstrated proficiency in data systems and analysis

Role

The Head Start Coordinator is a professional role, delivering a critical management and support function using a student-centred approach. The coordinator may engage or support students from up to 50 government secondary and specialist schools, as well as Flexible Learning Options settings that align with one of the twelve program hubs across Victoria.

Reporting directly to the Head Start Hub Director; the Head Start Coordinator will:The Head Start Coordinator is a professional role, delivering a critical management and support function using a student-centred approach. The coordinator may engage or support students from up to 50 government secondary and specialist schools, as well as Flexible Learning Options settings that align with one of the twelve program hubs across Victoria.

Reporting directly to the Head Start Hub Director; the Head Start Coordinator will:

• Develop and support Head Start arrangements that align with individual students stated career aspirations and interests supported by a collaborative sign-up process;

• Support the students progress through school and training; regularly undertaking site visits and reviewing the appropriateness of the work or training site;

• Provide students with relevant and practical skills development for the workplace and training settings; and provide a safe, supportive and positive environment that values professional  development;

• ensure appropriate support levels are maintained across the school/s providing key support and timely advice to the Hub Director, teachers and career practitioners

• develop and implement professional support tools for the success of the Head Start program, including guidance to teaching, career, employer and other professional staff;

• liaise with the general school community, the department and other government agencies; training, employer and other related service providers when needed;

• support the Head Start service provided to students or industry alongside program colleagues from across the state by identifying improvement opportunities and risk for strong student  outcomes. 

Responsibilities

Manage the delivery of a range of program support services using a student-centred approach across schools or industry, including coordinating the student workplace matching process;

• Determine work priorities, schedule and approach consistent with overall school and department policy frameworks; and manage relationships with school staff to ensure program goals are  achieved;
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key program stakeholders such as students and their support networks, employers, training providers, Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and the local community.
• Negotiate and manage contracts and service agreements relating to the program; and act on behalf of the Head Start leadership team in the delivery of student and/or industry services;
• Develops and seeks to improve successful interconnections between the senior secondary reform programs; and identifies and responds to any unforeseen touch points or risks with such  programs and other departmental initiatives alongside state-wide colleagues delivering the Head Start SBATs program;
• Maintains detailed records for each student and industry engagement involved in the Head Start SBATs program; including interpret and analyse data to inform and provide authoritative advice to school and program leadership;
• Supervision of students can be required where it is an integral part of the employees position or in circumstances where supervision is required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled  circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
• Other duties as directed.

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

Other Information

Requirements

A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current drivers licence.

An understanding of the school setting, particularly the relationships between middle and senior secondary education with career pathways is desired

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

Tertiary qualification will add value to the context of education, training and skills opportunities for students.

The position is classified as ES1-4, salary range is $93,265 FTE as the base rate. The related agreement is VGSA 2022.

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