Primary School Chaplain

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan

Job type: Part time / From 28/01/2025 - 26/01/2026

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1449045

**Location Profile**:
Mernda Primary School No. 0488 was first established in 1853 on Plenty Road just south of Bridge Inn Road. Originally named ‘Plenty State School’, it was renamed to Mernda Primary School in 1913 in line with a change in suburb name. The original school building still stands today near the entry to the Woodland Waters estate. The original school buildings were made from palings, weather boards and covered with a shingle roof.

In the early 1970’s, our student enrolment numbers grew to over 100 students. The Plenty Road Site could no longer cope, especially without town water and only three toilets The new four-classroom Mernda Primary School building was opened in Johnson’s Road, Mernda in 1976. Over the years portables and other structures continued to be added in order to accommodate growing student numbers.

In 2011 Mernda Primary School moved to its current site on Everton Drive and into brand new school buildings and grounds. The new building accommodated up to 450 students and Mernda Primary also hosts a 2007-2010 Labour Government Building Education Reform (BER) building, with 4 classrooms along with modern portable classrooms to accommodate its growing population.

Today with an enrolment of almost 1000 students and a rapidly growing population in the surrounding area, our current site in Everton Drive, Mernda Villages caters for the school’s every need. This state of the art facility features open learning areas, STEAM learning spaces, an inviting Library resource area, Performing Arts Centre, Gymnasium, playgrounds for all ages encouraging cooperative and creative play, a Digihub and an Environmental Area known fondly as the ‘Frog Bog’.

Our current school site allows Mernda Primary to move into the 21st century and provide our students with buildings and facilities that we are proud of.

Every child at Mernda Primary is treated as an individual and our highly trained teachers work tirelessly to provide individualised and targeted programs for all of our students.

**Selection Criteria**:
SC1 Experience in providing support to children and young people and their families to address social and emotional needs

SC2 Experience in delivering wellbeing services within a multidisciplinary team

SC3 Ability to suport schools and teahcers to identify and develop educational, social and emotional programs to support children and young people who are vulnerable or at risk

SC4 Ability to liaise with community service organisations, government agencies, specialist programs and other allied health professionals

**Role**:
The roles and responsibilities of a chaplain could include but are not limited to:

- work as a member of the school's wellbeing team in the delivery of student wellbeing services
- contribute to improving student engagement and connectedness
- contribute to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
- provide care and guidance to students
- operate within the school community and with external providers
- providing support in areas such as student attendance, engagement and mental health
- supporting students and staff to create an environment which promotes the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development and wellbeing of all students
- supporting students and staff to create an environment of cooperation and mutual respect, and promoting and understanding of diversity within the range of cultures and relevant traditions
- such other duties as may be required from time to time The School reserves the right to alter roles and responsibilities to suit the leadership and management requirements at that point in time

Attendance for this position is 2 days per week.

**Responsibilities**:
All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.

**Who May Apply**:
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

**EEO AND OHS Commitment**:
**Child Safe Standards**:
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
**DE Values**:
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian