Mental Health Practitioner Ed Support Level 1-Range 4

Overview

Work Type: Ongoing - Part-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4

Occupation: Health and allied health

Location: Melbourne - Eastern suburbs

Reference:

Location Profile

Wantirna College is a single campus Year 7-12 School of approximately 1490 students, situated in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, about 25 kilometres from the city centre. The College was founded in 1980 and consists of a core of well-maintained brick buildings, with additional portable buildings, in an attractive garden setting spread throughout the spacious grounds with panoramic views of the Dandenong Ranges. The College facilities include a new state of the art theatre, university style cafeteria, new and refurbished buildings that incorporate flexible open learning spaces as well as landscaped courtyards.

Wantirna College draws students from both local and surrounding primary schools. Demand for places at the College has been consistently strong and as part of the enrolment strategy there is a Department of Education and Training approved enrolment ceiling of 1500 students. Most of our students walk to school or are transported by their parents or buses.

The school family occupations index (SFO) is 0.35 and has remained fairly consistent over the last four years. The Language Background Other than English (LBOTE) proportion is 0.13 and again has been consistent over a large number of years. The College also has an international student program. This program takes approximately 20 overseas fee paying students largely from China and Vietnam.

Our EFT (effective fulltime teachers) is approximately 111 teachers. There is a Principal Team of 5 (one Principal and four Assistant Principals) and 72 non-teaching staff who provide support to both the teaching staff and students. This support covers Administration, Library, Science, Integration, Learning Support, Quick smart, Food Technology, Facilities, Gardening, School Nurses and ICT.

We operate two sub schools, the Middle School 7-8 and Senior School 9-12. Each sub school has its own administration, overseen by an Assistant Principal and Leaders of Sub school and operates within its own pedagogical guidelines. There is a strong and consistent whole school approach to welfare and discipline with an emphasis on emotional intelligence.

Students in Year 7 and 8 experience a core curriculum based around eight learning areas. The only choice in terms of subjects is LOTE where we offer Spanish and Chinese. This subject choice will be a factor in determining the student¿s home group. In Year 9 and 10 students undertake a course that is half elective and half core. Again, it is structured around eight learning areas. Early start VCE is accessible for Year 10 students who are achieving well. In Year 11 and 12 we offer a wide range of VCE units, comprehensive VM and VET programs.

The Wellbeing Team at the College is well supported through a range of Education Support Staff, including 1.5 Mental Health Practitioners, two Student Wellbeing Social Workers, two First Aid Officers, along with several placement students undertaking social worker work experience. The team support and run a number of key areas within the school including breakfast club, targeted student wellbeing interventions, counselling services for students and liaising with external services including DFS, Orange Door and Navigator, to ensure our students receive the best possible support to be successful.

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 Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

• Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
• Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and
• Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

Education support class level 1 range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022:

Responsibilities

• Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
• Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
• Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
• Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
• Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
• Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
• Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Who May Apply

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
• For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
• For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
• For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
• For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
• For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
• Demonstrated direct counselling experience
• A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
• For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
• For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).

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

Please ensure that your application includes:

• A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
• A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
• Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

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 Sunday 31 August 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

19 August 2025

---