Social Worker

Overview

Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3

Occupation: Health and allied health

Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs

Reference:

Selection Criteria

SC1 Qualifications in social work and/or counselling or equivalent, and an ability to deliver comprehensive social work and/or counselling support services to students and families in an educational setting.SC2 Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to maintain detailed confidential data on students.SC3 Capacity to work as part of a collaborative, professional team and contribute significantly to the achievements of the team.SC4 Demonstrated capacity and experience to provide counselling to students and parents individually and in group settings, as well as experience in the delivery of student and family wellbeing services.SC5 Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain networks that enhance the provision of effective internal and external services for students at risk.

Role

The specific duties will consist of, but not limited to:

• Provide support to vulnerable families.
• Support whole school initiatives such as Breakfast Club, State Schools Relief, student Uniform Programs, lunch time co-curricular activities, etc.
• Liaise between the school and community agencies including facilitation of referrals to community agencies and health and wellbeing supports.
• Work as a key member of the school and inclusion team to ensure uniformity of action and purpose across the school in matters relating to student welfare and wellbeing.
• Contribute to the school's existing Welfare, Inclusion and Wellbeing team

Case Management:

• Provide high quality case management and support for families.
• Coordinate clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students and their families identified as requiring further assessment and intervention.
• Participate in decision making conversations around referral pathways for families.
• Provide support for critical incident management.
• Communicate with external support services/community groups to improve outcomes for students.
• Keep thorough and extensive case notes to create transparency and accountability.
• Other duties as directed by the Principal Class team.

Program Support:

• Organise and facilitate programs for minority/vulnerable families and students.
• Develop and design programs for families to connect with community and services.
• Establish systems of support for families to access school supports.
• Undertake individual and/or group counselling and therapeutic interventions with students to assist them in enhancing their capacity to self-manage their social, emotional and educational needs.

Building Staff Capacity:

• Support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence-based mental health strategies, interventions and programs and build mental health literacy to identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns.
• Provide advice in the identification and analysis of emerging student wellbeing issues and coordinate specialist advice on the range of appropriate interventions for staff to use in classrooms.
• Actively participate in professional development activities/ programs and share knowledge and expertise with other staff.

Responsibilities

This position will attend to the duties required within the ES-3 range. The Social Worker will provide high quality advice and support to staff, students and parents at Westgrove Primary School. They will support and comply with DE and the school's policies and procedures in order to best support the welfare and wellbeing needs of the community.

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:

Other Information

• 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

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

Location Profile

Westgrove Primary School was established in 1995 and is located within the City of Wyndham on the land of the Bunurong People.

School Demographic

In 2025 we have approximately 525 students enrolled who are spread across 24 classes. We have either three or four classes at every year level from Prep to Grade 6.

We have a diverse student population, with 42% being from be disadvantaged background, 38% are EAL, 3% Aboriginal and 2% in Out of Home Care. The Student Family Occupation Index (SFO) is and the Student Family Occupation and Education Index (SFOE) is We work tremendously hard to support all students to have access to the education they deserve.

Westgrove Primary Schools Intention, Vision and Values

Our intent at Westgrove Primary School is for our students to have the skills needed to participate in society in a meaningful way, which are articulated in our school vision and values. This is important because many of our students need real life skills in order to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage and take full advantage of what is on offer.

Vision

Westgrove Primary School is a safe, inclusive and supportive community that empowers students with the tools to reach their individual potential.

Values

At Westgrove Primary School we are a diverse community who value Respect, Inclusion, Learning and Safety. These values underpin our decision making and guide the behaviours of all members of our school community.

The school motto 'Together We Grow' underpins the core aim of working together to build a purposeful learning community.

Teaching and Learning

At Westgrove Primary School our instructional model is based on the Workshop Model, which has the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) embedded within it. Over the last few years, the school has focused significantly on improving outcomes in reading. This encompassed improving teacher understanding and instruction and increased student and community engagement. This narrow focus saw improved results in this area. In the last 18 months our school has pivoted its focus to improving our practice and results in Mathematics, which is being support by the work currently being undertaken within the Wyndham network.

All teaching staff are active participants in high functioning Professional Learning Communities (PLC), which operate in bands across the school. The PLCs support our staff in taking collective responsibility for all students. More recently the PLC focus has been on improving teacher knowledge and trying new practices to improve student learning whilst building teacher capacity in Mathematics and Inclusive Classroom practices.

Our specialist program includes PE, Italian, STEM, Visual Arts and Performing Arts and Cultural Studies. Additionally, we have an EAL specialist teacher and intervention teacher/s who support those at risk in either English or Mathematics or stretching those students working well above the expected level.

The school also integrates the latest technology as a tool to support learning, including iPads, laptops and a range of STEM resources. Interactive whiteboards and LCD screens are available throughout the learning spaces.

Engagement, Wellbeing and Inclusion

The School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) initiative combined with the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) underpin our approach to wellbeing. The school community has a strong focus on explicitly teaching students the expected behaviours and attitudes aligned with our school values. We are committed to improving student attendance rates and have sound strategies in place for tracking and the follow up of student absences.

Our students have a range of leadership opportunities which include our formal leadership position (School Captaincy, House Leaders and Student Voice Leaders) and our Better Buddies and Community Service programs.

In 2025, our school is in its third year of implementation of the Disability Inclusion model, as well as the Side-By-Side Pilot program which aims to improve the attendance and achievement of our students with significantly low attendance.

Facilities

Our grounds have three designated play equipment areas, a synthetic sports area, a gymnasium, well-resourced library, daily canteen and well furbished classroom buildings. In addition, we have a swimming pool on school grounds, which we are in a joint use agreement with Paul Sadler Swimland. Our students regularly access swimming programs as do several local schools who hire the facility. We are proud of the Indigenous garden we have established in recent years. It includes a meeting place, a culturally significant sculpture and planting as well as signage which has been created by our Indigenous student population.

Applications close Sunday 14 September 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

3 September 2025

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