Director, Student Mental Health

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

School Education Programs and Support (SEPS) has a lead responsibility to shape the Education State to ensure that we build a system that provides every student with the knowledge, capabilities and attributes that will see them thrive throughout their lives. Its four key roles are as policy lead, system architect, commissioner and program designer. This ensures better outcomes for all students regardless of their start in life and promotes excellence and equity.

The Wellbeing, Health and Engagement Division (WHED) leads policy and programs to improve student wellbeing, safety, health, engagement and inclusion. The division has a particular focus on improving outcomes for cohorts that may be disadvantaged or at risk when it comes to their education.

About the Role

The Director, Student Mental Health will lead student mental health policy and programs, including the Department of Education's response to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System.

The Director will oversee a Branch consisting of several teams, with portfolio responsibilities including:

• Student mental health policy development and advice

• Responding to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, including by establishing and implementing a Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu

• Expanding the Mental Health in Primary Schools program and delivering a range of other mental health programs

• Supporting broader strategic objectives through the Wellbeing, Health and Engagement Division Executive Group.

Attributes

Reporting to the Executive Director, Wellbeing, Health and Engagement Division, the role requires a highly organised and experienced leader who can perform under pressure, with excellent policy development and stakeholder management skills. This involves:

• working with regional and school-based colleagues, as well as across other departmental groups, on delivering improved student mental health and wellbeing outcomes through effective partnerships and collaboration

• providing strategic and authoritative evidence-informed policy and operational advice in relation to student mental health to support the Executive Director, Deputy Secretary SEPS, other departmental groups and Ministers

• representing the division and department on governance groups and intergovernmental forums

• participating actively as a member of WHED, SEPS and the department's executive leadership group

• creating and sustaining a high-performance branch culture that encourages continuous improvement and a healthy work environment

• overseeing and ensuring effective and efficient management of the branch's budget and related administrative processes.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will be an experienced senior leader, with a strong background of shepherding large-scale policy and implementation deliverables in an environment of competing priorities. Prior experience in mental health and education systems in the Victorian context will be highly regarded.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values 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 more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Claire Tobin via

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 09-Sep-2025