Head Start Coordinator

**Overview**:
**Work Type**:Fixed-term - Full-time

**Salary**: Salary not specified

**Grade**:Education Support - Level 1, Range 4

**Occupation**:Education and training

**Location**:Loddon Mallee - Central Goldfields

**Reference**:1489878

**Location Profile**:

- Maryborough Education Centre **Maryborough Education Centre**will be host school for this Head Start position.

Head Start supports Victorian secondary school students to undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) while completing their VCE, including the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate. Head Start aims to improve the outcomes, quality assurance and equitable distribution of opportunities for senior secondary and special education students who undertake an SBAT. Head Start also considers middle school students preparedness for success in the SBATs program.

The three core components of Head Start are:

- flexible delivery of the senior secondary certificate with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy
- quality training delivered concurrently with secondary school education
- maximised time on the job to support achievement of competencies

Head Start was piloted in over 150 schools from 2019 with strong outcomes. The expansion of Head Start includes access to all Victorian government secondary schools, including special schools, and Flexible Learning Options.

The program has introduced more rigorous SBAT compliance and monitoring across the system supporting the states response to the 2020 Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth Review) reform agenda in senior secondary and vocational education. These reforms will collectively support all Victorian secondary students to pursue high-quality and valued vocational pathways aligned with their strengths and interests and to finish schooling with the skills and capabilities they need for success in further education, training, work, and life. The expansion of SBATs will also assist in addressing prioritised skill shortages by providing employers with support and access to school-based apprentices and trainees.

The option to maximise time in employment has proven to support students genuine progression through the apprenticeship or traineeship whilst meeting employer requirements. The program provides students with a clear pathway from school into employment with a qualification.

**About Head Start Hubs**:
All government schools are committed to a collaborative and creative approach to improving Vocational Education outcomes and experiences for all students. All schools actively engaged with Head Start are committed to providing their students with a pathway to completing Year 12, whilst establishing an authentic career path within an industry with proven demand. Head Start hubs are overseen by a Board comprising selected host school Principals and led by the Hub Director, who has the primary responsibility for reporting directly to its members.

All Head Start team members are assigned a host school, however they may in fact be required to work from a location or locations other than their assigned school. This is a great opportunity to work flexibly and creatively as part of a motivated and skilled team establishing new and vital pathway options for students.

**Selection Criteria**:

- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in middle and senior year student career pathways and the interconnect with meaningful student outcomes;
- 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**:

- The Head Start Coordinator is a professional role, delivering a critical management and support function using a student-centred approach. The coordinator may engage or support students from up to 50 government secondary and specialist schools, as well as Flexible Learning Options settings that align with one of the twelve program hubs across Victoria.
- 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 vi