Branch: School of Special Educational Needs: Behaviour and Engagement (Learning Academy - Midland)
Division: Service Delivery - Statewide Services
Salary: Level 3, $74,586 - $80,014 per annum (pro-rata) (DOE (SSO) CA 2022)
Work Type: Fixed Term - Full Time, Fixed Term - Part Time, Permanent - Full Time, Permanent - Part Time
We are seeking to establish a pool of Student Support Officer for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise from Term 2, 2025 school year and up to the end of Term 1, 2026. Appointments may be offered at any time for vacancies that commence during this period.
The Midland Learning Academy (MLA) is a small, specialist secondary school (Year 7-12) delivering a high-quality public education for students who are experiencing significant challenges to their engagement in a traditional (mainstream) school setting. At MLA we offer personalised learning experiences and holistic wrap-around supports to successfully re-engage young people with their chosen education, training, or employment pathways. Students are referred to MLA directly from schools, the education regions or through other Statewide Services pathways and specialist schools.
MLA staff work in partnership with the young person and their caregivers to develop personalised pathway plans which incorporate targeted learning and wellbeing needs which are reviewed collaboratively each term. MLA is a child-safe organisation where all members of the school community actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to enacting their legal obligations according to national child safety standards.
All MLA staff commit to upholding and enacting the WA Department of Education values of equity, integrity, voice, teamwork, care, learning and the standard of cultural safety. In addition, MLA employees commit to creating a learning environment which is responsive to the positive growth and development needs of all young people. This includes opportunities to strengthen their sense of safety, belonging, mastery, independence, adventure, and generosity.
The role of the Student Support Officer (SSO) is to support student engagement and achievement by identifying and responding to the wellbeing needs of young people and their families as part of the MLA Wellbeing Team. Ideally, the SSO does this by building safety and trust in their relationships with students to:
* help them strengthen positive connections with peers and adults.
* build social emotional competence by helping students to identify and respond in healthy ways to challenges/stressors in their life-space.
Students enrolled at Midland Learning Academy are supported by a “team around the young person” in which a Student Support Officer (SSO) is a key contributor in the students allocated class group. At MLA, SSO’s are highly skilled youth practitioners who are culturally responsive, work in restorative ways and understand the impact of adversity and trauma on student engagement, learning and wellbeing. They play an active role in case planning.
SSO’s spend time in class, working alongside teachers to assist students to regulate their thoughts and emotions so they can cope in healthy ways with stressors and fully engage in the learning program.
All staff at MLA follow a shared conceptual model of trauma wise care. SSO’s play a critical role in providing shoulder to shoulder support and advocacy. They maintain the view that the young person is the expert in their own life space and utilise their skills to connect with the young person, help them gain insight into challenges they face and finally assist them in planning for restorative outcomes.
SSO’s are ideally open to learning and engage in fortnightly supervision with a Senior Wellbeing team member to reflect on their practice and to identify their own professional learning and growth needs.
Want to know more?
Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
* be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
* obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
* consent to a National Criminal History Check with the Department's Screening Unit.
Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
Application Instructions
Apply online in two easy steps:
Step 1: Select Apply for Job
Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.
Your application should include:
* A CV of up to four (4) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position.
* A five (5) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF:
o Demonstrated good oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships.
o Demonstrated effective planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities within timelines.
o Demonstrated good research, conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to identify problems and provide solutions.
o Demonstrated skills and experience in working with individual or small groups of students experiencing difficulties.
o Demonstrated knowledge of the youth sector, particularly local organisations and services.
It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.
Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.
For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.
Advertised Vacancy Number: SS/SS957231
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Monday, 24 March 2025
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