Education Assistant - Special Needs

Applicants from the previous process IPS/SS1011564 who were assessed as suitable are not required to reapply.

We are seeking to establish a pool of Education Assistant - Special Needs for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise during the 2026 school year. Appointments may be offered at any time for vacancies that commence during this period.

John Tonkin College, centrally located in the City of Mandurah, heralds a new era for public education in Mandurah and provides outstanding opportunities for secondary students. The college offers a broad choice of courses and programs for Year 7 - 12 students in the Peel region as well as the southern metropolitan corridor.

John Tonkin College is named after one of Australia's longest serving politicians, John Tonkin. The late John Tonkin was a teacher, then education minister and then Premier of Western Australia. He valued fair play, hard work, tolerance, patience and believed in correct and proper teaching that developed good relationships with students.

Find out more about our school by visiting John Tonkin College or Schools Online.

The Role

As a Special Needs Education Assistant, you will under teacher direction, assist in the education programs and in promoting a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Education assistants will assist teachers in the delivery of planned education programs to assist students to reach their full potential through the development of their academic, social, emotional, and physical skills including the operation of computers and digital technologies. Within this role you should provide feedback when required on education and therapy programs and participate in the evaluation process relating to the achievement of goals in special education

You should have a high level of interpersonal skills and work collaboratively with staff members to meet the needs of students. Applicants will ideally possess the knowledge and experience of working with students with a range of disabilities and learning difficulties and the ability to support student growth, both academically and socially, within the classroom setting.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Che Heeley, Deputy Principal on (08) 9583 0500 or emailing che.heeley@education.wa.edu.au.

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1:Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include:

• A CV of up to four (4) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
• A four (4) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF
  • Demonstrated good written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interact with students with special needs, parents and teaching professionals on the provision of educational programs, and to assist teachers in understanding students where necessary.
  • Demonstrated good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as part of a team in the evaluation of educational programs, including special education and therapy programs where these have been implemented.
  • Demonstrated good organisational skills that will assist in the delivery and development of effective education programs to students and subsequent feedback to teaching professionals or psychologists.
  • Demonstrated ability to assist teachers or therapists in implementing educational programs, including special education and, should this be a requirement of the position, occupational and/or physiotherapy programs.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of health and physical disabilities in students and adolescents.
  • Demonstrated ability to assist with general health and well-being of students.

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.

Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/SS1030959

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Wednesday, 11 March 2026