Mental Health Practitioner

Location: Melbourne | Southern Metropolitan

Job type: Part time / From 09/10/2024

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Health and Allied Health

Reference: 1441135

**Location Profile**:
Glen Waverley Secondary College is a Year 7 to 12 co-educational school with a student population of around 2200. Glen Waverley Secondary College¿s vision is growing respectful, responsible, resilient global citizens who value diversity and lifelong learning. This vision is underpinned by our school values of: Respect, Diversity, Commitment, Perseverance and Accomplishment. Glen Waverley Secondary College has a proud history of academic excellence, underpinned by our commitment to provide a safe and caring environment where all students are supported to achieve their very best and by our relentless focus on providing high quality teaching and learning. Our curriculum offerings are broad and diverse, ensuring all students are supported to pursue their passion and to access their chosen pathways. Our co-curriculum programs are many and varied including our renowned instrumental music program, sport, science and technology and a thriving student leadership program. Students take pride in their school and are encouraged to immerse themselves in all aspects of school life. Student achievement is recognised through the Gain Wisdom Merit Program, which celebrates students who exemplify the school values and their accomplishments. Glen Waverley Secondary College is a school of choice, with demand often exceeding available enrolment space. Students who attend Glen Waverley Secondary College aspire to live and exemplify the college values and it is this commitment from students that has seen students routinely achieve Victoria Certificate of Education (VCE) results and NAPLAN outcomes that are amongst the best in the State of Victoria.

**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 mínimal 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 serv