Student Wellbeing Coordinator

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan

Job type: Full time / From 17/02/2025

Organisation: Schools (Government)

Salary: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1459748

Location Profile At Thornbury High School, we are proud of what we do every day to champion innovation, inclusiveness, and academic excellence. Through our extensive academic and extra-curricular programs, we aim to foster and inspire a new generation of respectful and resilient young people ready to face a rapidly changing world.

In 2024, the school's enrolment is approximately 1100 students. The school has four Principal class, 70 equivalent full-time teachers and 35 Educational Support Staff working together to achieve the school's vision, the central tenets of which are:

High academic expectations and standards A safe and secure learning environment A wide range of opportunities for students to pursue individual and collective aspirations A recent highlight was winning The Age – Schools that Excel Award for sustained improvement in VCE results. In 2023 the VCE median study score again reached 31, with 8.1% of students achieving study scores of 40 and above.

Our results in finding post-school pathways for senior students remain above the state median. The school continues to implement key teaching and learning strategies with a strong literacy and numeracy underpinning through our reinvigorated professional learning program.

Thornbury High's many strengths include our instrumental music program that includes free instrumental music tuition to all year seven and eight students as part of the performing arts curriculum, the recently expanded Sports Academy program and our Italian language immersion program.

The school has redeveloped its facilities recently completing stage two of our masterplan; a $14.9 million STEAM Centre. Our stage one Performing Arts and Sports Centre completed in 2020 has added to the vibrant teaching and learning program in those areas.

Thornbury High School values diversity in all its forms and models this in our day-to-day practices. The benefits of this are evident in the deep pride and sense of belonging within our school community. The school also conducts its own student-led annual bullying survey which has contributed to the development of a very safe and secure learning environment at the school.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands, the Wurundjeri People and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Who May Apply Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. 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). 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.

Please ensure that your application includes:

A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers). A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section. Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees. Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name.

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. Responsibilities Reports To: Principal team and Business Manager

Salary Range: ES 1-4

Time fraction: 1.0

The Student Wellbeing Coordinator (SWC) is an integral part of the THS Wellbeing Team and provides a wide range of support to students and families. They liaise with Departmental, community and internal groups and agencies to provide support and advice along with proactive and professional learning for staff to help them better recognise and understand the wellbeing demands and signs of need from our students.

The duties of this role will include the promotion of a safe, supportive, and positive school environment, reporting to and maintaining a close working relationship with Heads of year and Principal Class and Leading and supporting the Student Wellbeing Team.

The SWC must be able to relate to, and interact with a wide range of clients, service providers and Departmental staff in a professional and ethical manner and demonstrate a strong compliance with DET's 7 core values.

This role is responsible for the provision of the effective management of Student Wellbeing services to students as directed by the Principal and/or Business Manager.

Position responsibilities: Providing triaging for students and allocating them to a THS MHP staff member. Liaising with families to obtain Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP) where appropriate. Mental health prevention and promotion. Coordinating resources and supports with other services for students with complex needs. Organisation and delivery of mental health and wellbeing workshops with targeted groups of students. Provide mediation services as required. Make referrals for services, refer relevant students for assessment by Assessments Australia. Effectively liaise with the Disability Inclusion team. Maintain a close working relationship with sub-school leaders. Work collaboratively with all school teams to contribute to wellbeing policies and operational practices. Keep accurate and thorough written records of activities and all clients contact while maintaining security and confidentiality. Assist the Pathways Team (Careers) in completing Year 12 SEAS applications. Other duties as required or negotiated with the Principal or Business Manager.
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