Learning Specialist Range 3

Location Profile

Niddrie Autistic School is a government school in South West Victoria Region and has at its foundation a reputation for providing an exemplary education for students with autism from Prep to Year 3.
There is a commitment to excellence, which is communicated, to staff, students and families.
Members of staff have high expectations and a belief that every child can learn and achieve.
The school has profound expertise in developing and implementing Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and in assessing and monitoring the learning of students to ensure the goals in IEPs are achieved.
Niddrie Autistic School is situated 16 kms north of the Central Business District (CBD) in the suburb of Niddrie.
The school enroll students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The philosophy of the school is to provide an intensive program for students with autism to build their social communication and sense of self and others which will guide their inclusion and participation through their early years of schooling and beyond.
To support the needs of autistic children and their families, the school provides initial support for each student as he/she moves to their designated neighbourhood mainstream or special school setting.

In 2025 the enrolment is 155 students.
80% of these enrolments were boys and 21% of students come from a Language other than English background.
The majority of students travel from a wide geographical area and travel to Niddrie by a contract bus service.
In 2021 a DET funded capital works project was completed, the school now has a new state-of- the art building comprising 12 new classrooms and collaborative learning areas.
These works were part of the Stage 1 development of a bigger Master Plan for the redevelopment of the whole site.
As Niddrie Autistic School provides an educational program for autistic students from Prep to year 3, ensuring these students make a successful transition to further educational contexts from Year 4 is a vital focus not only of their program while at Niddrie Autistic School but also in the following years.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum.
Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.
SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs.
Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth
SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning.
Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values.
Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.
SC6 Experience in supporting and developing staff to understand the individual learning priorities of autistic students.
Demonstrated experience in developing staff capacity in the NAS teaching and learning cycle.

Role

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning.
Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students.
The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.
The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.

Responsibilities

In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:
Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

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.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all.
We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au

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

A written response to each of the Selection Criteria is mandatory.
Up to three referees who are able to comment on your application in relation to the Selection Criteria.
Referees other than those nominated may be contacted by the Panel.
Teachers who do not have an approved special education qualification but do have current provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching may apply.
Preference will be given to applicants who have an approved special education qualification
The position is initially offered on a two year tenure, with the possibility of extension at the end of the 2 year period.

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

VIT LANTITE

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements.
This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.

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