Mental Health Wellbeing Leader

Department of Education Victoria – Mount Waverley VIC 7d ago , from Department of Education & Training Victoria Mount Waverley North Primary School is the centre of a vibrant, active and supportive school community. We are located in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and are a school of choice within the local and wider community. Our school has a commitment to continuous improvement and academic excellence, with our most recent academic results displaying outstanding levels of high growth exceeding National and State benchmarks in all areas. We take pride in preparing our students to thrive in the world of today and tomorrow as effective global citizens. We offer a challenging, meaningful and authentic curriculum in an environment of care, collaboration, enterprise and mutual respect. Developing social competence is a priority, with a whole school approach to student learning and wellbeing. The use of High Impact Teaching Strategies across all levels of the school allow us to deliver excellence in teaching and learning. Our school motto is 'Aspire, Believe, Achieve', and our prime focus is to enable our students to achieve success, particularly in Literacy and Numeracy, develop a strong feeling of confidence and self‑worth and develop skills that enable them to contribute positively to society. Our Multisensory Structured Language learning approach is delivered across all areas of the school by our accredited MSL Teachers. This strong academic focus on Literacy and Numeracy, is supported by a range of engaging and enriching school specialists\¿ classes which includeMusic and Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education and Sport, Language other than English (German) and STEM. Opportunities are provided to excel through programs such as the Science Talent Search and Maths Olympiad, as well as Public Speaking and Debating. Extra‑curricular activities are offered both within and beyond the classroom, including Coding, Robotics, Chess and numerous Sporting activities and opportunities. We have a strong commitment to embedding Digital Technologies throughout our curricular areas and have invested in state of the art learning devices including Google Suite collaboration tools and technology. Our School values of Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Global Citizenship are central to the culture of our school and provide a strong framework for our Students, Staff and School Community to flourish. Selection Criteria SC1 `Content of teaching and learning'. Demonstrated ability to inform and influence the work of others involved in the engagement, mental health, wellbeing or learning of children and young people. SC2 `Teaching practice'. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health, wellbeing or learning. SC3 `Assessment and reporting of student learning'. Demonstrated ability to support a student's mental health, wellbeing or learning by developing and maintaining connection with external services. SC4 `Interaction with the school community'. Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills and communication skills. Demonstrated high level of capability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, other employees and the broader school community to focus on student learning, wellbeing and engagement. SC5 `Professional requirements'. Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate by gaining buy‑in and ownership for ideas, gaining agreement to proposals, or involving experts or other third parties to strengthen a case. Role The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System highlighted that primary schools provide opportunities to identify children with mental health and wellbeing challenges, who can then be referred to treatment, care and support. The Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative is being expanded to every government and low‑fee non‑government primary school in Victoria. Scaling up across the state from 2023, by 2026 every primary school will be able to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole‑school approach to wellbeing. The Department of Education has been piloting the Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative in Victorian schools since 2020 in partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Evaluation of this pilot initiative has shown that 95 per cent of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders consider the Mental Health in Primary Schools model has improved their school's capacity to support students' mentalhealth and wellbeing needs. Participating schools receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader , a qualified teacher, to work across the school to implement a whole‑school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community. Responsibilities of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader include: build capability of the whole school with regard to mental health and wellbeing (identification, promotion and prevention), provide support to staff to better identify and support students with mental health needs, establish clear pathways for referral for students requiring assessment and intervention, and monitor and evaluate student progress. The role provides a proactive focus for the promotion and prevention of mental health and wellbeing through assessment and implementation of context‑relevant programs, approaches and initiatives based on a broad and extensive knowledge of the needs of the school. Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders are provided training in mental health literacy, supporting emerging needs, and building school capacity and receive ongoing support and professional development through structured and regular Learning Communities. Training is developed and facilitated by the Faculty of Education at University of Melbourne, supported by Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Responsibilities Operating in collaboration with their school, leadership and wellbeing team where relevant, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader will: Promote a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing to students, staff and families Support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence‑based mental health strategies, interventions and programs and build mental health literacy to identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns. Collaborate with school staff to inform, influence and provide input into teaching and learning relating to mental health and wellbeing. Provide support to schools staff and classroom teachers to build their capabilities to embed mental health into the classroom. Work with school leadership and wellbeing teams to embed whole school approaches to mental health into school planning and strategic processes. Coordinate clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention. Proactively work with and support regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and other external agencies to coordinate targeted mental health support for primary school students. Contribute to the school's existing wellbeing team. Who May Apply Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position. Diversity and Inclusion The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, 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 safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines). Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via*******@education.vic.gov.au. 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. 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: 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 Qualification Requirements The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements (this condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian ITE program completed by the person). Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found atRecruitment in Schools. Be careful - Don’t provide your bank or credit card details when applying for jobs. Don't transfer any money or complete suspicious online surveys. If you see something suspicious, report this job ad. #J-18808-Ljbffr