Role
Children and young people with disability can require a greater degree of parental or family involvement in their education and care than their peers without disability. Parents and carers of children with disability play several supporting roles, including as advocates and as people who can provide valuable insight into their child¿s specific needs for services such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the broader health and community services system.
The Victorian Government is introducing new NDIS Navigators from 2023 in government specialist schools to provide support to parents and carers to help them navigate and understand the NDIS, enabling them to get the most out of the supports available. They will also provide support to schools, parents and carers to better understand the interface between the education system and the NDIS.
Responsibilities
The NDIS Navigator will carry out the following with a high level of autonomy (within broad guidelines), professional leadership and minimal day-to-day direction:
·provide support and advice for parents and carers to build their capacity to understand, advocate for and access appropriate NDIS funded support services available to their children
·develop and maintain relationships with parents, carers, school staff and local services to enable productive working relationships between schools, parents, carers and the NDIS
·support collaborative practices between NDIS funded services and the school including by providing appropriate information, documentation and/or logistical support for approved NDIS-funded therapist on-site visits. (School to edit/amend if they do not allow NDIS therapists to delivery therapy on school site)
·working collaboratively across their school, the NDIS Navigator will support families and carers to resolve issues experienced with the NDIS through appropriate channels.
The NDIS Navigator will not:
·contact the National Disability Insurance Agency or NDIS funded agencies on behalf of families or carers except in limited circumstances, following consultation with the principal
·act as an advocate for families, carers and students in matters that are the responsibility of the school.
The NDIS Navigator role is not a teaching role or a clinical role and is not designed for direct intervention, individual student case management or crisis management. The role will not implement or perform supports and adjustments in schools.
In some circumstances the NDIS Navigator may need to consult with the principal to prioritise families that have more complex needs that require additional support.
Who May Apply
Relevant experience in the NDIS, disability, youth or education sectors is desirable but not essential.
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 ).
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 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:
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:
Other Information
Equal employment opportunity AND OHS Commitment
The department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. 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.
important information
·Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.
·Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed. Visit for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.
·All staff employed by the department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
·Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New department employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
·If appointed from outside the department, successful applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
·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 support the department¿s commitment to its Environmental Management System, department employees are expected to act in an environmentally responsible manner at all times.
Conditions of Employment
1. All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
2. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
3. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
4. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at
Location Profile
Port Phillip Specialist School is a dual-mode specialist school catering to a diverse range of students aged to 18 years with a diagnosed intellectual disability.Port Phillip Specialist School believes that all students will develop personal and social capabilities, communication and independence to the best of their abilities.Port Phillip Specialist School is committed to the values of professional collaboration, trust, compassion and respect whilst embracing and celebrating diversity. The school environment is creative, accepting, flexible and positive.
Port Phillip Specialist School utilises the Visual and Performing Arts to engage students to work towards achieving the Victorian Curriculum outcomes in English, Mathematics, Personal and Social Capabilities, Health and Physical Education and Science. Students are further supported through a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum in English and Mathematics and a School-Wide Positive Behaviour Framework.
Port Phillip Specialist School¿s Integrated Services Model ensures the focus is to optimise student well-being outcomes and promote happy, healthy students. Our school is a professional learning community where collaboration and collective responsibility for improving student learning and well-being outcomes provide every student with a targeted teaching and learning program.
Port Phillip is committed to building and fostering positive and mutually beneficial relationships within the school and the wider community to support students within an inclusive environment.
Other Information
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hours per day
Monday & Tuesday
830am to 436pm