Es 1-4 Mental Health Practitioner

Location: Melbourne | Eastern Metropolitan

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

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1433381

**Location Profile**:
Wellington Secondary College is a large and highly respected co-educational state secondary college located in the City of Monash, approximately 24 kilometres to the south east of the CBD of Melbourne. The College provides an extensive range of programs for secondary school aged students from Years 7-12 in the Mulgrave, Springvale, Noble Park, Dandenong North, Keysborough, Westall (and surrounding) communities.

Located in south east Melbourne, Wellington is surrounded by excellent infrastructure. Nearby is Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre with a medical centre, department stores, post office, banks, chemist and supermarkets and the main Clayton campus of Monash University with many other university campuses and TAFE colleges within fifteen kilometres of the College.

The College has maintained a strong student enrolment with just under 1700 students for 2024. The ethnic mix of its students reflects the multicultural nature of the surrounding area, one of the most diverse in Melbourne.

In addition to the local enrolment, the College has a strong International Student Program, accommodating 100 + students, largely from Vietnam, Cambodia and China.

The College employs approximately 160 staff with an effective full-time teaching staff of 125 and a large support staff of 35, including multicultural aides, a college First Aid Officer, full time welfare coordinators and careers counsellors.

Wellington Secondary College provides a safe and inclusive environment to meet the needs of all students. We are committed to the provisions of Ministerial Order 1359 (Child Safety).

The College prides itself on its commitment to literacy and numeracy across the whole school. Retention of students at WSC is very strong. Academic success is expected, and high standards of behaviour are required. Students usually remain enrolled for the duration of their secondary education, except where the family relocates.

Consequently, Wellington Secondary College enjoys a very positive reputation in the local community. We respect well established school traditions, with all students and their families being inducted into the culture of the school¿s motto, the **Wellington Way** - _Caring Striving Learning_.

Originally opening in 1973, the well-maintained and recently redeveloped campus is set amongst landscaped gardens and extensive courtyards.

In 2019, we opened the E.H Blaikie Vanellus Centre, a beautiful two-story Administration, Technology and Library Hub, along with eight 21st century collaboration and learning spaces.

In 2022 the final re-development stage of the campus was completed with a new Senior School Precinct, a Technology area and a Wellbeing Centre.

The campus also features a Performing Arts complex with 288 seat Theatre, well equipped and modern specialist rooms for Visual Arts, Technology and Science, two multi-purpose Gymnasiums, a Wellbeing Centre, an International Centre and separate Junior, Middle and Senior School Centres.

In 2022 the College successfully completed a Department of Education and Training Review. This has guided the preparation and writing of our four-year Strategic Plan (2023 - 2026).

**Selection Criteria**:

- Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.
- Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
- Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
- Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
- Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

**Role**:
The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Educ