Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan

Job type: Part time / From 28/01/2025 - 26/01/2026

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1446901

**Location Profile**:
Eltham Primary School is situated in the township of Eltham 24kms to the north-east of Melbourne in the council shire area of Nillumbik. The school is part of the North-Western Victoria Region of the Department of Education and Training. Our school is steeped in the tradition of excellence and is positioned in a tranquil leafy setting. Eltham Primary School was established in 1856, with the original sandstone school building now housing the administration of the school. Eltham Primary School currently has an enrolment of just under 300 students. Staffing at the school consists of Principal, Assistant Principal, 22 fulltime teaching and support staff. Our student Occupation Index (SFO) is.19 and has remained stable over the strategic period. The school operates in grade levels with composite classes, to deliver the school program providing consistency across Foundation to Year 6. Our timetable operates on five one-hour sessions a day. Together, we are committed to maximising the learning opportunities for every student in every classroom. Our teachers work in collaborative teams to plan and deliver evidence-based teaching strategies that target the needs of individual students. Teachers and students have a growth mindset when approaching learning, with students taught to use individual learning goals to lead their own learning. We practice positive education through our School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports framework. Our student wellbeing program utilises positive psychology strategies and targeted interventions to ensure any student with academic, social or emotional concerns is supported to achieve. We believe the best outcomes are achieved when families, teachers and students work together towards individualised goals.

**Selection Criteria**:
**SC1** Demonstrated high level of knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated high level of ability to respond to student learning needs.

**SC2** Demonstrated high level of ability to plan for and implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.

**SC3** Demonstrated high level of ability to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated high level of ability to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

**SC4** Demonstrated high level of interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated high level of ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

**SC5** Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated high level of ability to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.

**Role**:
The Department of Education and Training (the Department) has partnered with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCR) to deliver a pilot to provide more mental health support in primary schools.

Participating schools receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator (MHWC) to build mental health capabilities of staff across the school and link with external services. MCRI in collaboration with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education has developed evidence-based training and resources to build capacity of primary schools to better identify and support students with mental health concerns.

On 7th August 2020, the Minister for Education announced funding for continuation and expansion of the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot (the pilot) in 25 schools in 2021. The pilot has been implemented in 10 schools in the North-Western Victorian Region in 2020 and will be expanded to an additional 15 schools in 2021.

Operating in collaboration with their school, this role will have the following functions:

- Have suitable teaching qualifications and registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching
- Embed evidence-based training across the school and build the capacity of teaching and education staff to better identify and support students with mental health concerns
- Be a significant contributor to the school¿s wellbeing team
- Support their school to create clear pathways for referrals for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention within the school and connect with local community-based services
- Proactively work with regional staff (i.e. Student Support Services), school wellbeing and leadership teams and other health professionals to engage appropriate me