Occupational Therapist

Location Profile

Bayside SDS is a specialist school for approximately 65 students located in the South Eastern Victoria Region.  The school has established a positive and engaging learning environment for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities ranging in age from 4.8 to 18 years.  Many students have additional diagnoses including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and emotional regulation difficulties.  A highly successful Early Education program operates for pre-school children with additional needs.

The school prides itself in maintaining an atmosphere of warmth and encouragement, and the consistently high results in both staff and parent opinion surveys substantiate this claim.  The staff consists of teachers, teacher assistants, specialists, and a therapy team.  The differentiated curriculum is delivered individually and in small groups and is designed to maximise the development of skills in communication, engagement, and social interaction.

The school practises the Positive Classroom Management Strategies across all year levels and supports staff to complete training in this approach.

Selection Criteria

1. 
   Demonstrated ability to support student engagement in learning by applying occupational therapy approaches in classrooms and working with staff to embed practical regulation, communication, and independence strategies.

    

2. Demonstrated ability to complete functional, sensory, and developmental assessments that inform programs and funding needs, supported by concise reports recommending appropriate adjustments.

3. Demonstrated ability to provide professional learning and coaching that translates therapy knowledge into inclusive, classroom¿ready strategies and builds staff confidence.

4.  Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with classroom teams, allied health, and families to set shared goals and maintain respectful, consistent communication.

5.  Demonstrated ability to embed therapy¿informed interventions within classroom routines to build functional and self¿regulation skills using natural learning contexts rather than withdrawal models

Role

The Occupational Therapist (OT) works as a core member of the school¿s multidisciplinary team to enable students with disability and complex needs to access, participate, and succeed in learning. The role blends student assessment and intervention, coaching and capacity-building for teachers and education support staff and collaboration with families and private allied health providers

Responsibilities

Student Assessment & Intervention

Collaborative Planning with Educators

Assistive Technology & Environmental Modifications

Family, Carer & Allied Health Partnerships

Professional Learning & Capacity Building

Data, Documentation & Compliance

Contribution to School Improvement

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

Applicants should write a response to each of the 5 Selection Criteria