Academic Director: Social Work

**Academic Director: Social Work (Part-time)**

Southern Cross Institute (SCI)

Parramatta NSW 2150

**About Us**

Southern Cross Institute (SCI) aims to provide the highest quality education to students that would enable them to achieve their professional and personal goals. SCI’s modern campus facilities and fully equipped classrooms are designed to support students through engaged learning. We aim to train young learners to graduate who are well-equipped to join the workforce.

**Why Join Us?**
- Expanding enrolments
- Opportunity for professional development
- Small tight knit team
- Modern campus facilities
- Secure permanent position
- Great location

**About the Role**

We are inviting expressions of interest from qualified and experienced academic professionals in Social Work courses to join our professional, tight-knit team as the Academic Director. Based in Parramatta, these positions are initially offered on a permanent part-time (0.5 Fractional) basis and are likely to become full-time appointments within the next I year. Please note that the salary for this position will be prorated if it is part-time (0.5 FTE), reflecting a fraction of the full-time equivalent salary.

**Position Summary**

The Academic Director at Southern Cross Institute (SCI) holds a pivotal role in providing academic leadership across all Social Work courses. The Academic Director reports to and collaborates closely with the Deputy Dean in ensuring high-quality teaching and learning outcomes with a focus on continuous improvement. This entails assuming accountability for strategic leadership, maintaining academic excellence, and driving ongoing improvements in Social Work courses, adhering rigorously to the standards and criteria set forth by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). The Academic Director is a member of the Executive Management Team as well as the Course & Industry Advisory Committee, and the Teaching and Learning Committee.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Oversight of the governance structure of Social Work;
- Delegating roles and responsibilities for academic and professional staff;
- Ensuring compliance of all courses including field education with appropriate AQF level and ASWEAS standards;
- Contributing significantly to ethical, high quality Social Work through scholarship, publication, grant acquisition, mentoring, and presentations;
- Leading innovative teaching methods, including online learning platforms, to enhance student experiences;
- Providing support to students facing academic challenges, integrating Social Work practice skills into curriculum for Field Education success;
- Assisting in internal and external quality assurance and accreditation processes, ensuring placements meet standards;
- Cultivating strategic relationships with industry, professional associations, and organizations nationally and internationally;
- Leading all academic activities and staff within Social Work;
- Engage in and encourage other staff to undertake scholarship or research activities in areas of Social Work and/or education;
- Promoting and supporting scholarship and research in Social Work and education;
- Managing Social Work placements and providing leadership to Field Education staff;
- Ensuring a positive learning experience for students in Field Education;
- Managing Field Education staff responsible for placements and unit delivery;
- Contribute to recruitment, selection, and performance management of academic staff;
- Deliver assigned units in the undergraduate and postgraduate courses as required;
- Oversee and report on student assessment and the internal and external moderation of assessment;
- Contribute to regular external benchmarking of courses/units;
- Contribute to the annual review of courses/units in line with the _Course Review and Continuous Improvement Policy _and any other related policy documents;
- Monitor the Student Portal/Moodle webpages for each unit ensuring that academic staff have timely and appropriate access;
- Ensure that lecturers/tutors have access to a properly resourced preparation area;
- Contribute to the development of timetables for each semester of study in consultation with the Deputy Dean;
- Liaise with academic administration staff in ensuring student progress including monitoring attendance records;
- Manage allegations of academic misconduct and maintain appropriate records and academic support services as required;
- Organise examinations for relevant courses;
- Ensure accurate records of student results and grades;
- Oversee and report on student and staff satisfaction surveys for each semester;
- Provide course/major-specific advice to students as required;
- Ensure prescribed and recommended texts per unit are available to students and staff prior to the commencement of the term of study;
- Compile regular reports on assessment, course review, and moderation for the Teaching and Learning Committee, Course & Industry Advisory Committee as well as th