Learning Specialist

Location: Melbourne | Southern Metropolitan

Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025 - 26/01/2028

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1442339

**Location Profile**:
Monash Special Developmental School is a government school located in the North Eastern Victorian Region in the City of Monash. Monash SDS provides an educational program for children with a moderate to profound intellectual disability and multiple disabilities including autism spectrum disorder from the age of 2.8 to 18 years old. Currently student enrolments numbers are around 155. It has been on the current site for 11 years in a well-resourced purpose built facility. In addition to the general classrooms the school also features specialist areas, outdoor learning environments, a multi-purpose gym, a hydrotherapy complex, a bike path and specialised indoor and outdoor sensory areas.

Monash SDS is gold accredited in School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS), AMAZE accredited and e-Smart accredited.

Students across the school at Monash SDS are taught using the Victorian Curriculum. Curriculum based individual learning plans are developed for each student and are taught using a variety of high impact teaching strategies and specialised curriculum supports including the STAR (Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research) and Links Program. The STAR and Links Program is research and evidence based and uses the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. It provides a framework and the necessary tools to teach the Victorian Curriculum through the implementation of Discrete Trial Training (DT), Pivotal Response Training (PRT) and Functional Routines instruction. A school wide Structured Teaching Framework provides every student with a highly visually based structured environment that promotes an understanding of schedules, activities and expectations.

Our schools philosophy is reflected in its programs and based on the belief of Enriching Individual Potential. To do this, we require a committed principal, who is able to see the special characteristics of all our students and will strive to ensure each individual feels safe, is confident and valued as a person.

**Selection Criteria**:
SC1: Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage the implementation of school priorities and SWPBS across the school.

SC2: Demonstrated outstanding classroom teaching skills in SWPBS and capacity to model this high impact teaching strategy and lead colleagues to improve their teaching and learning to enable all students to achieve their full potential.

SC3: Demonstrated outstanding written and verbal communication skills and high-level interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with parents, other employees and the broader school community focused on student learning, wellbeing and engagement.

**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.

The role of the Learning Specialist SWPBS is to:

- build excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching service.
- Improve the skill, knowledge and performance of the teaching workforce to improve wellbeing of students
- Lead and manage SWPBS within the school with a high degree of independence to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the schools SWPBS framework.
- Make a significant contribution to policy development relating to SWPBS and inclusion in the school.
- Effectively mobilise available resources to support students wellbeing especially the most vulnerable students.

**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 developmen