Job duration: From 28/01/2025Contact: Anthony Rodaughan | Reference: 1448400Occupation: Education and TrainingSalary Range: Salary not specifiedWork location: Gippsland | TraralgonLocation ProfilePlease note the time fraction for this role is negotiable.Kurnai College is a multi-campus college in the Morwell and Churchill area of the Latrobe Valley, about 150 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.The Kurnai College Statement of Purpose reads:To build a Learning Community with a global perspective which promotes respect and achievement.We define a Learning Community as a community where:learning is our focusall members of the College Community accept the responsibility for increasing their own learningall members of the College Community accept the responsibility to assist others to increase their learningThe College's Four Pillars underpin all aspects of our work. They are Engagement, Excellence, Work Ethic and Relationships.The current Strategic Plan focuses on building teacher capacity through Professional Learning Teams, improved data literacy and assessment for learning practices. We also focus on creating positive learning environments through the Positive Behaviour Support framework incorporating a restorative approach that is informed by a knowledge of generational poverty and the Berry Street Education Model. The College values student, family, and teacher voice.The College has moved to a collaborative approach to drive curriculum and pedagogical development. The college has trained a team of growth coaches to help build teacher capacity. The College will also provide instructional leadership development opportunities for teaching staff over the period of the current plan.The College has developed a strong ICT network and are building our E-learning capacity at every opportunity.We welcome all students to our college, and we are particularly proud of our efforts to be a more inclusive learning community. The College has been recognised for its work in forging links with the indigenous community and continues to welcome students from all backgrounds, working with all to achieve success. The College has recently changed its logo to better reflect with our Koorie connection and respect for the Gunai Kurnai people.The College works hard to connect with our local community to increase the number of Kurnai students in further education and training. The College has three mainstream campuses with two year 7-10 campuses located at Morwell and Churchill, and a senior campus for years 11-12 co-located at Federation University in Churchill. The College also administrates two satellite campuses to cater for students at risk (LV FLO) and young parents (KYPP).The College looks to the future with a sense of optimism and a positive frame of mind. With a stronger focus on our Kurnai identity and of belonging to one College with five campuses, combined with an understanding of, and commitment to, our purpose, we move confidently forward striving to provide the best possible learning opportunities for all members of our Learning Community.Selection CriteriaAbility 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.RoleThe 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.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.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 minimal 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 services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).Who May ApplyRequired Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA.For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health.For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA.For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).Demonstrated direct counselling experience.A current Working With Children Check.For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).EEO AND OHS CommitmentApplicants 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 StandardsVictorian 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: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:Please ensure that your application includes:a resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)a section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply sectionnames and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two refereesPlease note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.Conditions of EmploymentAll 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 To apply for this role, you will be redirected to the Schools (Government) job application system. #J-18808-Ljbffr