Job Description
About Us
Warragul and District Specialist School is a regional school located in West Gippsland, approximately an hour and a half east of Melbourne.
The school has around 130 students aged between 5 and 18 years, all with intellectual disabilities, many with multiple disabilities including Autism, sensory, and physical impairments.
Students come from a broad geographic area, including Drouin, Neerim District, Yannathan/Poowong, and Trafalgar.
We believe that every student can learn, grow in self-esteem, through fostering care, dignity, and respect, using positive reinforcement, and recognition of achievement.
Our curriculum develops skills for graduates to use as adults, involving work/further education, managing their own homes, and participating in local communities.
We commit to building teacher capacity, improving learning outcomes, reflected in our Strategic Plan:
- Maximize student learning growth.
- Improve student voice and agency.
- Improve personal and social responsibilities of students.
In 2018, we reviewed our values in line with the School Wide Positive Behavior Supports initiative, consulting the school community to establish three core values:
Be a Learner
Our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Values are embedded into the school community, monitoring expectations and norms across programs, activities, and events.
Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will possess:
SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of relevant curriculum, incorporating literacy and numeracy skills, experience responding to student learning needs.
SC2 Experience planning, implementing high-impact teaching strategies, guided by student learning, evaluating learning impact, and teaching programs.
SC3 Experience monitoring and assessing student learning, providing data-informed teaching practice, and feedback on student growth and achievement.
SC4 Interpersonal and communication skills, establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and the broader school community.
SC5 Behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values, reflecting on practice, engaging in professional learning to improve teaching quality.
Role and Responsibilities
The Classroom Teacher classification comprises two salary ranges - Range 1 and Range 2.
The primary focus of the Classroom Teacher is planning, preparation, and teaching programs to achieve specific student outcomes.
They engage in critical reflection and inquiry to improve knowledge and skills, effectively engaging students and improving their learning.
As teachers gain experience, their contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases.
Classroom Teachers may be required to undertake other duties, provided they are appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training, and experience.
Key Features of the Role
Range 2 Classroom Teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities.
They contribute to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities, focusing on increasing staff knowledge about student learning and high-quality instruction.
Range 2 Classroom Teachers are expected to have content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet diverse student needs, model exemplary classroom practice, mentor/coach other teachers, provide expert advice, supervise student teachers, and assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches.
Range 1 Classroom Teachers focus on further developing skills and competencies to become effective classroom practitioners, under general direction within clear guidelines.
They teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs.
Range 1 Classroom Teachers participate in policy development, project teams, and co-curricular activities, with responsibility for teaching their own classes and contributing to school priorities.
The role of Classroom Teacher may include direct teaching, contributing to curriculum development, undertaking organizational duties, participating in parent/teacher meetings, staff meetings, camps, and excursions, and supervising non-teaching duties.
Who May Apply
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in specified curriculum areas.
Apart from full-time employment, part-time employment is also encouraged, with requests to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
EEO and OHS Commitment
The Department of Education is committed to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion for all.
We value diversity and inclusion in all forms, including 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 promotes flexible work, diversity, and safety across all schools and workplaces.
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.
All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at: The department's HR website .
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.