Head Start Coordinator: Industry Focus

Occupation: Education and training

Location: Melbourne - Northern suburbs

Reference: 1498569

Selection Criteria

- Demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate with industry stakeholders to generate and sustain employer partnerships that support student pathways, with a strong understanding of local labour market trends and workforce needs
- Demonstrated capacity to engage students or industry with program models and manage program data in accordance with government and education policy;
- Experienced in advanced interventions in dealing with particularly complex cases that may require cross-profession or industry collaboration;
- Effective communication skills when engaging with various stakeholders and levels of management including a commitment to the DET values;
- Effective management of personal workload and motivation to deliver a program that rests across a large number of stakeholders, including student and support networks, schools and education systems, industry and workplace compliance and overarching state and Commonwealth regulations;
- Demonstrated proficiency in data systems and analysis.

Role

ROLE CONTEXT

Head Start is a wraparound service provision that powers school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Head Start aims to improve the outcomes, quality assurance and equitable distribution of opportunities for senior secondary and special education students who undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs). Head Start also considers middle school students’ preparedness for success in the SBATs program. The Head Start SBAT program was piloted in over 150 schools from 2019 with strong outcomes. The expansion of the program will ensure access to all Victorian government secondary schools, including special schools, and Flexible Learning Options.

Reporting directly to the Head Start Hub Director; the Head Start Coordinator will:

- develop and support Head Start arrangements that align with individual student’s stated career aspirations and interests supported by a collaborative sign-up process;
- support the student’s progress through school and training; regularly undertaking site visits and reviewing the appropriateness of the work or training site;
- provide students with relevant and practical skills development for the workplace and training settings; and provide a safe, supportive and positive environment that values professional development;
- ensure appropriate support levels are maintained across the school/s providing key support and timely advice to the Hub Director, teachers and career practitioners;
- develop and implement professional support tools for the success of the Head Start program, including guidance to teaching, career, employer and other professional staff;
- liaise with the general school community, the department and other government agencies; training, employer and other related service providers when needed;
- support the Head Start service provided to students or industry alongside program colleagues from across the state by identifying improvement opportunities and risk for strong student outcomes.

Responsibilities

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

- Develop and implement industry engagement strategies focused on generating new employer leads and securing workplace opportunities for students, aligned with local workforce needs and program objectives
- Manage the delivery of a range of program support services using a student-centred approach across schools or industry, including coordinating the student workplace matching process;
- Determine work priorities, schedule and approach consistent with overall school and department policy frameworks; and manage relationships with school staff to ensure program goals are achieved;
- Develops and maintains strong relationships with key program stakeholders such as students and their support networks, employers, training providers, Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and the local community;
- Negotiate and manage contracts and service agreements relating to the program; and act on behalf of the Head Start leadership team in the delivery of student and/or industry services;
- Develops and seeks to improve successful interconnections between the senior secondary reform programs; and identifies and responds to any unforeseen touch points or risks with such programs and other departmental initiatives alongside state-wide colleagues delivering the Head Start SBATs program;
- Maintains detailed records for each student and industry engagement involved in the Head Start SBATs program; including interpret and analyse data to inform and provide authoritative advice to school and program leadership;
- Supervision of students can be required where it is an integral part of the employee’s position or in circumstances where supervision is required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher;
- Other duties as directed.

Who May Apply

QUALIFICATIONS

A tertiary qualification that will add value to the context of education, training and skills opportunities for students.

OTHER IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS

An understanding of the school setting, particularly the relationships between middle and senior secondary education with career pathways is desired.

A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current driver’s licence and use of a privately owned vehicle for work purposes, with insurance that complies with the Department's requirements.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period; additional leave allowance may be considered.

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 marung@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:

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

Location Profile

Bundoora Secondary College is the host school for this Head Start position.

Bundoora Secondary College is a year 7-12 College in a quiet residential area of Bundoora, a northern suburb of Melbourne. We are an innovative, caring school and take great pride in knowing every member of our community (both staff and students) as individuals and as learners.

The school is set on a well-developed, picturesque site adjacent to Gresswell Forest. The spacious grounds include a variety of playing fields and as our school farm continues to develop, a range of animal paddocks, productive gardens and indigenous flora plots. Our school is accessible by foot, bike or car and is well serviced by our school buses and public transport. Our school enjoys a strong partnership with our neighbours including Melbourne Polytechnic, Latrobe University and RMIT Bundoora Campus as well as other universities further afield. BSC is a Child Safe school and expects all employees to be cognisant of the expectations upon them to contribute positively to our child safe environment.

Applications close Sunday 26 October 2025 at 11.59pm

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