Community Partnerships

Lake Colac School is located in the regional town of Colac and provides high quality curriculum, wellbeing and therapy programs for students with special learning needs from Early Education to the year they turn 18. We span a large catchment area of students from the local district, including the coastal region. All school age students have a diagnosis of intellectual disability, ranging from mild to profound, whilst many students also have associated social, emotional, behavioural, sensory or physical impairments. Around one third of students are on the autism spectrum. The Early Education Program caters for children 2.8 to 4.8 years of age who present with delays in two more developmental areas. Teachers met in a Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) and as Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and are focused on creating a positive school climate and improving their professional practice. We strive to provide differentiated curriculum practices for students with disabilities within and beyond the school into the wider education community. We recently located to a brand new school site in Colac and adopting a new name, Lake Colac School, from the beginning of 2024.

LCS offers an Early Education Program (EEP) for children who have a developmental delay. EEP is an educational program which uses the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and develops and promotes each child¿s social and emotional skills through guided play, as well as creative and structured activities. EEP is based around developing skills which promote fine and gross motor co-ordination, language and communication, cognition and self-care.

LCS recognises and values the importance of parents and professionals working collaboratively as partners to achieve the best outcomes for each individual within our care. We promote positive student wellbeing and engagement through implementing a whole school Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum that builds and strengthens students¿ personal and social capabilities.

Our school curriculum offers flexibility for teachers to tailor their teaching in ways that provide rigorous, relevant and engaging learning and assessment opportunities for students with an intellectual disability. Individual Learning Plans are provided for every student with the necessary adjustments made in order for students to engage in curriculum content as well as demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding.

The Curriculum taught and assessed from Foundation to Year Ten is the Victorian Curriculum F-10 encompassing the Towards Foundation Level Victorian Curriculum, Levels A-D. Students in their final years of schooling have a managed individual pathways plan and, where applicable, a careers action plan. This includes Enterprise Education, work experience and the Duke of Edinburgh program.

LCS was established in 1985 and is now located in Colac¿s West, near Lake Colac, where services are provided to eligible students from Colac and the surrounding district, including the coastal region. The current student enrolment at LCS is approx. 75 FTE and has 14 EEP children. It prides itself on providing a high-quality education for all students in a safe and secure learning environment, where kids come first. The school has a Strategic Plan (2023 ¿ 2026) and its Annual Implementation Plan incorporates the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes 2.0 (FISO).

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 and within the school community.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills, between colleagues and with families.

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 student and family wellbeing and engagement.

SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role

Attendance days are negotiable within the allocated time-fraction.

Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3.Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involving supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

- Work strategically with the school's Mental Health Wellbeing Officer, Mental Health Practitioner, and School Wellbeing Leader to develop and improve wellbeing and support systems with the school's families.
- Manage the connections between the school and family education and wellbeing needs.
- Provide professional student support services, e.g. therapist and psychological and counselling services in accordance with professional qualifications
- Provide strategic advice on specific support services and their impact on students, school curriculum and services.
- Communicate family and student needs to relevant personnel within the school.
- Develop and implement engagement strategies to build stronger connections between the school and families.
- Manage the use of and access to school wellbeing resources and reference material.

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:

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:

- 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.
- 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

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