Education Support - ES1-2 - Food Technology Assistant

Location Profile

Time fraction 0.6 across 3 days per week (negotiable - discussion to start and finish times with the successful applicant will be confirmed prior to commencement of the role).

Cranbourne East Secondary College (CESC), located in the Hunt Club Estate, adjacent to Cranbourne East Primary School and Marnebek School, was established in 2011. The College is in Cranbourne East, approximately 55 kilometers south-east from Melbourne CBD. 

The Cranbourne East community and cohort is very multicultural, with a significant number of students born overseas and coming from language backgrounds other than English. Students from refugee backgrounds make up approximately 5.4% of the entire cohort, EAL students 7.6%, and >1% of students are indigenous. The 2024 SFOE index is 0.4403.

As a Public Private Partnership school, we continue to experience rapid enrolment growth, with a year 7-12 enrolment exceeding 2100 students, and expected incremental growth over the next few years.

The College currently has approximately 235 full-time and part-time staff that compose of teaching, education support, leadership, principal class, allied health, and paraprofessional staff. The Leadership Team is made up of an Executive Principal, 9 Assistant Principals, 14 Learning Specialists, 26 Leading Teachers, and 3 ES Leaders.

Cranbourne East Secondary College continues to develop a strong sense of community through areas of focus including house culture, student voice and agency, attendance and connectedness, transitions, SWPBS, and wellbeing.

CESC is known and respected for the high expectations we have of our entire community, in all aspects of college life. These expectations extend beyond agreed behaviours and are ingrained in the learning that students are demonstrating in the classroom and form the basis for our comprehensive extra-curricular programs.

At Cranbourne East Secondary College, we stand by our purpose and motto:

'Giving every student, every opportunity to exceed their potential by providing a high-quality pathway to success' 

We endeavour to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding and co-operation which is underpinned by our College values of Respect, Growth, Achievement, and Responsibility.

It is these values that form the basis of our positive school-wide behaviour recognition which also encompasses extra-curricular engagement, leadership, and community service.

Strategic focus areas to improve NAPLAN (Reading, Writing, and Numeracy) alongside student experiences, linked to Attitudes to School Survey, are on an upwards trend. There have been marked improvements in AtoSS in 2024 and 2025 alongside an increase to Year 9 students performing in the Strong and Exceeding bands in NAPLAN.

The College is organised into year level teams for both students and teachers. Year Levels are led by teams of teaching and ES staff, overseen by a Sub-School Assistant Principal. Teams include leadership in the space of connectedness, engagement, transition, and voice and agency.

English, Maths, Science, Humanities, and Health and Physical Education are compulsory from Years 7 to 10 with the Arts, Technology and Languages compulsory in years 7 to 9 and offered as electives in year 10.

Enrichment and support interventions are numerus at the College, including Connect 4 Success, Effective Reading Program, English and Mathematics enrichment classes, Applied Learning Programs, and Hands on Learning. Equal are the extra-curricular opportunities like Inter-School Sport, instrumental music program, and annual College Production.

As students move into Senior School, broad and robust Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) opportunities exist, with or without the Vocational Major (VM). Ongoing growth in our VCE results has led to a consolidation of median student study score of 30 in 2024. Students have an immense breadth of subjects to choose from, with high enrolment and participation in Vocational Educational Training (VET) on-site and with community providers.

Our highly resourced careers team ensures each of our students are provided quality individual counselling towards their chosen career pathway, whilst supporting careers education from year 7 in our Pastoral Program.

Our college wide, Instructional Model & Professional Learning Teams drive our teaching and learning practices. This approach to teaching and learning promotes consistency between learning areas and year levels, and supports targeted pedagogical approaches, using data, to meet students at their point of need to promote growth and achievement for every child.

We recognise and value the importance of wellbeing for all our students and in response have a dedicated team overseeing an extensive range of supports that ensure our students enter our classrooms ready to learn. This team works closely with sub-school leaders and work extends into the classroom with a collective focus on trauma-informed practices, SWPBS, and tiered supports.

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

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.

The Food Technology Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of a high-quality Food Technology curricular program with an emphasis on the practical class components. Working as part of the Food Technology team, the role provides operational, organisational and technical support to enable teachers to focus on student learning. This includes assistance with classroom preparation, materials management, administrative tasks, food safety compliance, and the facilitation of a safe and orderly learning environment. The role requires initiative, organisation, and a proactive approach to supporting teaching and learning outcomes.

This role reflects ES1-2 responsibilities, requiring a sound knowledge of food technology operations and the ability to exercise judgement, take initiative, and work with autonomy under general supervision. The position involves applying knowledge and practical skills to support teaching and learning programs, maintain a safe environment, and contribute to team goals in a structured yet flexible school setting.

Responsibilities

Classroom and Curriculum Support

• Assist teachers in preparing, organising, and setting up practical materials, equipment, and demonstrations for food technology classes.
• Observe and support students during food preparation activities, reinforcing safe food handling practices and referring students to the teacher as required.
• Trial new recipes and provide feedback on functionality and class suitability.
• Support lesson planning and project preparation through the sourcing of required resources as directed.

Resource and Inventory Management

• Facilitate ordering, purchasing, receiving, and storing of ingredients, consumables, and kitchen equipment.
• Ensure materials and equipment are available, labelled, and ready prior to each class.
• Maintain accurate records of stock levels, ingredient usage, equipment servicing, and budget tracking.
• Monitor and maintain records of spending within the Food Technology budget under the direction of the Learning Area Leader and Business Manager.

Health, Safety, and Compliance

• Maintain clean, safe, and hygienic food preparation and storage areas in accordance with the school's operational manual and relevant health and safety legislation.
• Undertake regular cleaning and maintenance tasks to ensure all equipment and work areas are compliant with food safety standards.
• Monitor equipment for damage or faults and report for repairs as required.
• Support the implementation of student safety procedures and promote a safe learning environment.

Administrative and Operational Support

• Perform clerical and administrative duties such as maintaining recipe files, digital records, inventories, and other documentation as directed.
• Assist with the organisation and preparation of food for school events (e.g. parent-teacher interviews, expo evenings, and information nights).
• Provide assistance in the development of resources and instructional materials as directed by the Food Technology teaching team.
• Other duties are directed by the Principal or delegate.

Teamwork and Communication

• Collaborate effectively with the Food Technology team, supporting shared goals and contributing to team discussions and planning.
• Liaise with suppliers, staff and students in a professional, respectful and efficient manner.
• Uphold a high standard of communication, punctuality, professionalism and attendance.

Key Capabilities and Personal Attributes

• Knowledge of safe food handling, hygiene and kitchen operations (Food Handling Certificate desirable).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic school environment.
• High-level organisational and time management skills with the capacity to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with staff, students, and external providers.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach to daily operations and problem-solving.
• Commitment to personal and professional growth aligned with the role.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Relevant experience in food preparation, hospitality, or kitchen support preferred.
• Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to obtain).
• Current Working with Children Check.
• Level 2 First Aid Certificate (or willingness to obtain).

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

• 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

Please ensure that your application includes:

• A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
• A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
• Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

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