Social Worker

Location Profile

Wallarano Primary School, located in Noble Park, is a large and culturally diverse school serving 609 students in 2024. The student body comprises 298 females and 311 males, representing over 40 nationalities. Approximately 71% of students come from non-English speaking backgrounds, speaking 45 different languages, while 1% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The school operates within a high socio-economic band, with 29% of families receiving the Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund.

Guided by its vision¿"Teach, Transform, Inspire, and Nurture"¿Wallarano is committed to fostering a culture of ambition, reflective practice, and continuous improvement. The school provides a rich and relevant curriculum designed to encourage lifelong learning, develop global and local citizenship, and prepare students for success in the 21st century. A key part of this vision is the integration of digital technology, which enhances teaching and learning through innovative tools while equipping students with the skills to confidently navigate the digital world.

Wallarano¿s strong STEM focus further supports this vision, offering students hands-on experiences in podcasting, robotics, coding, virtual reality, design thinking, and inquiry-based learning¿essential skills for the future. In 2024, the school engaged students, parents, and staff in a consultation process that led to a revision of its core values. The updated values¿Respect, Kindness, Teamwork, and Safety¿are explicitly taught, ensuring students understand their meaning and how to demonstrate them. This work will continue into 2025.

Parent satisfaction at Wallarano is exceptionally high. The 2024 Parent Opinion Survey showed that 91.4% of respondents provided positive feedback about the school, well above the state primary school average of 81.6%.

Wallarano Primary offers a range of purpose-built facilities designed to enrich student learning. These include dedicated spaces for STEM, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and a multi-sensory room. Other specialist facilities include two BER buildings, Building A, modular relocatable classrooms, a library, a Hall/Gymnasium with a stage, and dedicated areas for Information & Communications Technology and Digital Technologies. Flexible learning spaces are available within these buildings to support modern teaching practices. In 2024, the school further enhanced its outdoor facilities with the installation of a new shade structure and acrylic turf. Additionally, the school provides a "Before and After School Care" program, operated by OSH Club.

To meet the needs of its diverse group of students, Wallarano employs a team of 52 teachers (37 EFT), three Principal Class Officers, four administrative staff, four learning specialists, 35 Education Support staff¿including multicultural aides and ICT Technicians¿and two school psychologists. The school runs a large integration program, supporting 45 funded students. With a strong focus on inclusion and equity, Wallarano provides tailored support through Individual Education Plans for students with additional needs, including high achievers, students with medical conditions, and those receiving funding through the Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP).

Selection Criteria

SC1 Experience in the development and implementation of programs, procedures and processes that foster resilience in young people to address their social, emotional, and educational needs.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity and experience in working as part of a collaborative team and contributing expert knowledge and advice to meet the needs and achievements of the team.

SC3 Demonstrated highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of young people.

SC4 Well developed and demonstrated knowledge of mental health interventions, risk assessment skills and counselling skills to meet the wellbeing needs of the school community

SC5 Demonstrated ability to support students and deliver programs which are considerate of the learning needs and perspectives of students from culturally diverse backgrounds including First Nation students.

Role

Time fraction and days negotiable.

Range 4 is distinguished by broader management responsibility, particularly in the areas of finance, human resource and other support functions. Range 4 is responsible for managing a range of functions under a wide range of conditions, subject to the size and complexity of school operations.

Objectives will, generally, be clearly defined; guidelines will be broad and day-to-day direction minimal. Management responsibility extends to ensuring appropriate support levels are maintained across the school. Range 4 generally provides key support and timely advice to the leadership team and school council and liaises with the general school community, the Department and other government agencies and service providers.

Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Inclusion and Wellbeing team to design, implement and evaluate whole-school wellbeing and intervention programs aligned with the MTSS framework.
• Provide evidence-based counselling and intervention strategies for students with complex needs, including case management and risk assessment in collaboration with families and external agencies.
• Deliver direct wellbeing support to a defined caseload of students, aimed at addressing barriers to learning, attendance, and engagement.
• Advise and build capacity within the leadership team and staff through expert consultation, professional learning, and strategic planning to improve student wellbeing outcomes.
• Promote student and family engagement by addressing attendance barriers, facilitating access to support, and empowering active participation in decision-making processes.
• Maintain professional competence through ongoing learning and adhere to relevant health, privacy, and legislative policies.
• Undertake supervision duties, including group supervision of students as required.
• Perform additional tasks as directed by school leadership.

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

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