Job Description Location: Melbourne | Southern Metropolitan Job type: Part time / From 10/02/2025 Organisation: Schools (Government) Salary: Salary not specified Occupation: Health and Allied Health Reference: 1461162 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 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). For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources Responsibilities 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 Apply Required 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. Desirable 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 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 marrung@education.vic.gov.au 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: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy 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: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview 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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx Location Profile Western Port Secondary College is a dynamic learning community located in a beautiful rural setting on the Mornington Peninsula. It is a smaller sized secondary school with approximately 720 students. The College has recently undergone a $11.6M major refurbishment which has included a new Senior Hub, Yr 7 Hub and dedicated Wellbeing wing. The College ethos is based upon the commitment of staff, students and parents working cooperatively to provide the best possible curriculum in a safe and welcoming environment. The College¿s Core Values are Community, Achievement, Respect, Engagement (CARE), which are embedded into programs and practices within the College community. Our College places a great emphasis on pastoral care and a very positive approach to student wellbeing. We believe the best environment for students to learn is one that is safe, inclusive, respectful, caring and purposeful, and one where personalised and individual learning programs can be achieved. Each and every student is known and has a place in our school. The current strategic plan focusses on our core business of Teaching and Learning and Accountability. We have initiated a 21st Century Education approach which ensures our students complete their schooling and leave equipped with the skills and knowledge to be successful in their futures and careers. We have implemented a number of changes so all students are accurately mapped on the Victorian Continuum in all learning areas, and then explicitly taught at the level they are at in order to progress along the continuum. This growth is then measured, recorded and reported on. We have developed similar measures for our senior VCE and VM programs. We have shifted from solely relying on Teacher Judgments for assessment and instead using a range of tools to more accurately and independently measure and map students learning growth and academic outcomes. Teachers continue to work hard developing differentiated curriculum and associated assessment. The College was selected as a Department of Education STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Catalyst school and our specially trained staff are delivering a core STEM program including digital technologies, coding and robotics to Year 7 and 8 students, elective program to year 9 and 10 and a cluster initiative project with students in Grade 5 and 6 from feeder primary schools. The College is a partner school with the Mitchell Institute on the `Entrepreneurial Learning in Schools¿ project. The College is recognised for its excellence in pathway provision and is an Alumni member of Beacon, supporting young people in exposure to further education, training and employment. The College is a Monash University SAM school and provides a program promoting and facilitating tertiary pathways. The VCAL and VET completion rates are now at or close to the state average, with these improving each year over the last 4 years and our retention at school is close to the state mean. The College has implemented the Southern Youth Commitment policy and is involved in the Youth Partnerships Frankston Mornington Peninsula demonstration site. Through this involvement with the `Wrap Around Care¿ model, the school has been involved in implementing a number of projects and policies across the College that support vulnerable youth and keep young people retained and engaged in educational pathways. The College is working to reinstate its 5 Star Sustainability Accreditation, receiving numerous environmental awards over the last few years. This supports the work of the student led Environmental Action Group. The school maintains a strong music and performing arts program and regularly holds concerts and productions.