Learning Specialist

Overview

Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Learning Specialist - Range 3

Occupation: Learning specialist

Location: Melbourne - Southern suburbs

Reference:

Location Profile

Emerald Secondary College offers a quality secondary education. Our college is proud of the Strategic Direction which is driving forward the core mantra to provide `Access to Excellence'. Students are surrounded by a natural environment which enhances their educational experiences in purpose-built buildings and supported by a committed and passionate staff.

The College has just completed its first stage refurbishment that included the Resource Centre, Administration Block, upgrades to the Science classrooms, Food Tech/Textiles and the Year 7 building. Further funding was awarded to the College to continue to upgrade learning spaces. A new senior school building is in the planning stages, with a completion date earmarked for late 2026.

The College supports a professional learning environment that builds staff capability and adds growth to both student and staff outcomes. Emerald Secondary College's Instructional Model has been embedded and aims to empower staff and students to continue to develop Learning and Teaching outcomes ensuring consistency between classes and the use of High Impact Teaching Strategies. The College offers a comprehensive curriculum from Year 7 through to Year 12 with a student focused pathway approach supporting each student¿s interest, ability, and aspiration for the future. This is enhanced by an additional acceleration pathway that can allow students¿ access to University Courses at school to complement their Year 12 program.

Our college has a strong history of academic success with a high proportion of students being accepted into university or other tertiary institutions. We offer an extensive range of VCE courses in the Senior School complemented by vocational education opportunities including VET and VCE/VM.

We are also proud to be an accredited Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program (SEAL) school for academically talented students from Year 7 onwards.

Beyond the curriculum the College offers a range of opportunities for its students including Student Voice and Leadership, Instrumental Music Program, Performing Arts Centre, Visual Arts Program, School Sports Program and a Camps and Outdoor Education Program.

The College Values of:

Respect, Resilience, Harmony and Excellence underpin all that we do as a college as part of a holistic approach to a vibrant learning community.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.

SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth

SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.

Role

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.

The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.

Responsibilities

In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
• Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
• Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
• Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
• Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
• Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
• Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
• Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
• Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
• Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
• Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities
• Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice

Who May Apply

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for 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

Key Responsibilities:

Curriculum Development & Compliance

• Co-lead the College to transition to the new VTLM 2.0, via the Instructional Model and supportive practice
• Support staff to access ARC and other DE lesson plans
• Oversee the documentation and implementation of VCE aligned curriculum that meets the requirements of study designs and college expectations.
• Work with the Domain Leaders to ensure curriculum documentation is accurate, guaranteed, viable, and clearly mapped.
• Support the design and implementation of coursework, SACs, exams, and rubrics across VCE subjects.
• Support with interim, mid year and end of year reports

Instructional Leadership

• Lead and model the use of the whole school instructional model across Years 10¿12.
• Coach and support teaching teams in senior years through in-class modelling, feedback and collaborative planning.
• Collaborate with SIT to ensure consistent instructional practice in senior classrooms.
• Conference with Year 12 teachers on student progress at least twice a term, together with the AP, and LT, Head of Senior School

Assessment and Data Use

• Build staff capacity to use VCE data, assessment outcomes, and student progress data to improve teaching.
• Co-ordinate development and use of consistent reporting and feedback practices on Compass, including the development of STEM comments.

Professional Development & Performance

• Support teacher performance processes through coaching, feedback, and reflection aligned with the school¿s instructional model.
• Promote high expectations, collegiality, and evidence-based practice in curriculum delivery and assessment.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with Domain Leaders to support curriculum-linked events and ensure community understanding of senior curriculum pathways.
• Co-ordinate parent and community communication related to Years 10-12 curriculum, including handbooks and information evenings.
• Collaborate on school events that promote and celebrate curriculum-linked learning AND wellbeing strategies, building on connectedness (use of AtoSS data)

TECHNICAL and HUMAN

Implement NAPLAN every year

Member on SIT

Highly visible leadership presence throughout the College

Support staff with DI students, both with reasonable adjustments and modified work

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

VIT LANTITE

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.

Applications close Wednesday 27 August 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

14 August 2025

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