Mental Health

Location: Melbourne | Western Metropolitan

Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1447940

**Location Profile**:
Jacana School for Autism currently caters for 224 students and is located off the Western Ring Road close to public transport, Broadmeadows Shopping Centre, Broadmeadows Leisure Centre and the Hume Global Learning Centre/Library. The school commenced operation in January 2013 as a specialist school that exclusively addresses the educational and social needs of students with an autism spectrum disorder. Many students also present with a range of associated disabilities and conditions. Students are aged between 5 and 18 years and travel to the school from a wide geographical area.
The site has a range of well-maintained, secure and engaging playgrounds. Students also access local parks, playgrounds and indoor play centres under staff supervision. Facilities include a multipurpose room, occupational therapy rooms, visual arts room, music room and two student kitchens.
The school is divided into 3 sub schools; Primary, Middle and Secondary. Each sub school is led and managed by a Leading Teacher. Classes generally comprise of small flexible groups of 8 to 14 students, according to age (stages of schooling), ability and the individual needs of the students. Each class is taught by combination of teachers and teacher aides. Teachers and teacher aides work in partnership for the benefit of the students. Teachers are responsible for the development, delivery and evaluation of all classroom activities and individual student programs while maintaining an autism friendly classroom.
The school employs four Learning Specialists who support the effective implementation of tier 2 intervention and well as deliver Science or Personal and Social Capabilities. Specialist programs include Health & Physical Education; The Arts (Visual and Music); The Technologies (Food Technology and Design), and are provided across the school. A therapy team of 3.0 EFT speech pathologists,2.4 EFT occupational therapists and a wellbeing team including, MHP, MHWL & Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer supports the work of the classroom team.
Jacana School for Autism currently has 3.0 principal class, 5.6 EFT leading teachers, 4.0 Learning Specialists, 31.4 EFT teacher class staff, 50 EFT education support staff, 4 EFT speech pathologists, 3.0 EFT occupational therapists and 0.4 social worker.
Jacana School for Autism has an administration team of 6.4 which supports the day
- to - day running of the school, and a maintenance staff member who ensures that the grounds and buildings are well maintained. Staff are encouraged to belong to professional network groups. Close relationships have been developed between network schools and nearby mainstream schools into which our students are integrated.

**Selection Criteria**:

- SC1 'Content of teaching and learning' Demonstrated ability to inform and influence the work of others involved in the engagement, mental health, wellbeing or learning of children and young people.
- SC2 'Teaching practice¿. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health, wellbeing or learning.
- SC3 'Assessment and reporting of student learning¿. Demonstrated ability to support a student¿s mental health, wellbeing or learning by developing and maintaining connection with external services.
- SC4 'Interaction with the school community¿. Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills and communication skills. Demonstrated high level of capability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, other employees and the broader school community to focus on student learning, wellbeing and engagement.
- SC5 Professional requirements' Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate by gaining buy in and owership for ideas, gaining agreement to proposals, or involving experts or other third parties.

**Role**:
Participating schools receive funding to employ a **Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader**, a qualified teacher, to work across the school to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community. This includes:

- building the capacity of school staff, in particular classroom teachers, to identify and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom
- supporting the school to create clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention
- coordinating targeted mental health support for students by working with regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and external agencies

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders are not required