Operational Teaching Assistant

Overview

Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 2

Occupation: Administration

Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs

Reference:

Location Profile

Dandenong Primary School acknowledges that our school is located on the Country of the Bunurong people of the South-Eastern Kulin Nation. We honour their sovereignty and connection to Country as the traditional custodians of the land on which we learn and teach.

The school first opened its doors on Monday, 4 May 1874, and in 2024 celebrated 150 years of excellence in learning and teaching.

Dandenong Primary School serves one of Australia's most, if not the most, culturally diverse communities.

In 2025, the school is home to approximately 480 students from Foundation (Prep) to Year 6. The school consists of four Foundation classes, three Year 1 classes, three Year 2 classes, three Year 3 classes, three Year 4 classes and four Year 5/6 composite classes. Specialist classes in health and physical education, science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), visual arts, performing arts, and social and emotional learning are offered. The school also maintains a specialised English as an Additional Language (EAL) support program for Year 3 to Year 6 students and *provides* extra language and literacy as well as numeracy support across the school through the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) team.

In addition to our learning and teaching staff, the school maintains a team of wellbeing staff to support the health and wellbeing of students and families. In 2025, this includes a VIT registered student wellbeing leader, a social worker, and an arts therapist.

The school's staff and volunteers are almost as diverse as the student population, speaking a range of languages, including Dari, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Spanish, French, Serbian, Albanian, Greek, Cantonese, Mandarin, Turkish, Russian, and English. The school is led by a 2024 VEEA 'Outstanding Primary Principal' finalist, two assistant principals, three Leading Teachers/Learning Specialists, and a PLC team leader for each year-level-based learning and teaching team (Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5/6), along with curriculum specialists and Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) staff. Nearly all classrooms are supported by Education Support teacher aide staff.

The school continues to run its award-winning Victorian Early Years Award Community Hub program, which brings local information and services related to education, health, community, and settlement into a familiar and welcoming space for parents and carers. The Community Hub aims to help families build friendships, support networks, and a sense of belonging in both the Dandenong Primary School and wider community.

Dandenong Primary School also continues its collaboration with the Victorian Early Years Award winning Greater Dandenong Early Learning Alliance (ELA), a project comprising four local schools and five kindergartens. A cornerstone of this partnership is the continuity of learning in language and literacy development between kindergarten and school. The ELA strengthens collaborative partnerships, relationships, and engagement between educators, families, and communities. Notably, this collective of schools and kindergartens is honoured with the Victorian Early Years Award in 2023.

The school makes use of online platforms and social media to offer a window into the life and learning at Dandenong Primary School. Links to our social media sites are available on our school website at

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4 Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5 Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role

[Attendance requirement for this position]

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

Responsibilities

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Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

EEO AND OHS Commitment

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via

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 public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at

Applications close Tuesday 2 September 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

21 August 2025

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