Mental Health Specialist

The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System highlighted the significance of primary schools in identifying children with mental health and wellbeing challenges, who can then be referred to treatment, care and support.

Scaling up across the state from 2023, by 2026 every primary school will be able to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to wellbeing.

The Department of Education has been piloting the Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative in Victorian schools since 2020 in partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation of this pilot initiative has shown that 95 per cent of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders consider the Mental Health in Primary Schools model has improved their school's capacity to support students' mental health and wellbeing needs.

As a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, you will work collaboratively with your school, leadership and wellbeing team to promote a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing. You will also support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence-based mental health strategies, interventions and programs, as well as build mental health literacy to identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns.

Key responsibilities include:

• Promote a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing to students, staff and families;
• Support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence-based mental health strategies, interventions and programs and build mental health literacy;
• Collaborate with school staff to inform, influence and provide input into teaching and learning relating to mental health and wellbeing;
• Collaborate with external services to establish clear pathways for referral for students requiring assessment and intervention, and monitor and evaluate student progress.

This role requires a qualified teacher with expertise in mental health and wellbeing. Key qualifications include:

• Demonstrated ability to inform and influence the work of others involved in the engagement, mental health, wellbeing or learning of children and young people;
• Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health, wellbeing or learning;
• Demonstrated ability to support a student's mental health, wellbeing or learning by developing and maintaining connection with external services;
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills and communication skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Rights Resilience & Respectful Relationships program (RRRR), School Wide Positive Behaviours program (SWPB) and/or Positive Classroom Management strategies (PCMS).

This role offers a range of benefits, including:

• Opportunity to work collaboratively with a team to promote a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing;
• Professional development opportunities through structured and regular Learning Communities Training;
• Training in mental health literacy, supporting emerging needs, and building school capacity;
• Working collaboratively with external services to establish clear pathways for referral for students requiring assessment and intervention.

Additional information includes:

The Department of Education is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment. We value diversity and encourage applications from individuals who can contribute to our workplace culture. If you are passionate about promoting mental health and wellbeing in education and have the required skills and qualifications, please submit your application.

Acknowledgement: This job description is a general outline of the key responsibilities and requirements of the role. The actual duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the specific needs of the school and the successful applicant.

Keyword: MentalHealthSpecialist