Student Welfare Support Officer

**Fantastic opportunity to join the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)**:

- **Pivotal role developing and implementing quality student welfare strategies and programs**:

- **Located at Peterson, NSW (Tocal College)**:

- **Contract role for three years - Full time, 35 hours per week**:

- **Generous salary from $97,027 to $107,059 per annum plus super and leave loading**
- Diversity and inclusion are core values of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is a workplace where everyone is able to contribute and participate to their full potential, and we are proud to have a team that reflects the richness and complexity of the regional NSW communities we serve._

**About the Role**
In this pivotal role as Student Welfare Support Officer at Tocal College, you will make a real difference to students at a critical stage of their vocational and personal development. You will achieve this through the development and implementation of innovative welfare strategies and programs. As a member of the Youth Education Program, you will help train and inspire the next generation of agriculturalists needed to ensure the prosperity of Australia’s Primary Industries. Your passion for developing and mentoring young people will help them achieve their vocational and personal goals.

**About You**
As Student Welfare Support Officer in Tocal’s Youth Education programs, you will:

- Engage and support students with study and career development advice.
- Consult with the Deputy Principal, Youth Education staff, and relevant, external services, to initiate early support strategies.
- Coordinate orientation and induction programs to prepare students for the challenges of living in shared residential accommodation and foster development of appropriate attitudes to relationships and work.
- Use your experience in youth work, and with youth support networks, to develop and/or deliver programs that prevent or reduce harms, and improve student emotional, mental, and physical health. This will include after hours, extra-curricular programs designed for student enrichment.
- Monitor student performance and wellbeing and help identify students at risk of poor performance or harm, including self-harm and suicide.
- Be a first resource for at risk students and in coordination with the Deputy Principal, or through referral to other services, help support individual students by way of agreed risk management plans.
- Be a strong role model who combines empathy and understanding with sound advice to students for self-improvement.
- Proactively research areas for improvement by Tocal and identify potential gaps in current support processes. This includes review of relevant student welfare policies.
- Assist the Deputy Principal to manage critical incidents, prepare reports and maintain confidential and appropriate case management records. This includes communicating with statutory reporting bodies and relevant law enforcement agencies.
- Encourage and support students to engage with the local community and contribute to worthwhile organisations and charities through their in-kind support or fund-raising donations. This will include your leadership as a staff representative of the Tocal Student Association, and Tocal Rotary Connect.

**To be successful in this role you’ll need**:

- Relevant experience in social work or welfare and in supporting young people aged 15 and upwards, including families from diverse backgrounds.
- The capacity to triage and offer emergency assistance to at risk students suffering from a range of potential harms and/or trauma.
- Demonstrated passion and resilience when working with young people that experience personal, learning, behavioural, and socio-economic challenges, to continue to encourage them to be the best version of themselves possible.
- Trusted relationships with relevant youth support organisations and services.
- A minimum qualification of Diploma in Community Services, Counselling, Youth Work, Social Science, Social Work or related discipline is highly desirable.
- An understanding of vocational training for agricultural careers, the agricultural industry, and the challenges of living in regional and remote, rural communities.

**Essential requirements**:

- A Working with Children Check is an essential requirement for this role. The role has been identified as requiring a check in keeping with the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012.
- Current Australian Driver Licence and the ability and willingness to travel.

If you’d like to know more about the role, please **click here to view the role description**.

**Applications close: Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 11:55pm AEST**

**About Us**

**Together, we are DPIRD**

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) protects, supports and develops primary industries and regional economies.