• Classification: Teacher Aide - Multicultural Ed Support
• Level 1-Range 3
• Subject/Duties: Primary/Secondary P-12
• Begin Date: 18/10/2021 End Date: 22/4/2022
• Regular/Temporary: Part Time - Fixed Term - Hours: 28.00

Flemington Primary School was established in the current buildings and location 1922, and is situated in the quiet residential area of Travancore in inner Melbourne. The school is set back from Mount Alexander Road behind majestic, heritage cast iron gates and the school oval, and is bounded by the laneway, Flemington Street, Cashmere and Mangalore Streets and the Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Unit.

Our guiding philosophy is based on equity of access and high expectations that all children will learn and achieve their full potential. We anticipate that all children will leave Flemington Primary School with a love of learning, a strong sense of self-worth, confidence, independence, risk-taking skills and self-discipline. High expectations for learning and behaviour are linked to respect for the rights and responsibilities of all members of our community.

Interwoven with this philosophy and aims are the school values of Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Respectful and Be Ready to Learn with the overarching goal of BE YOUR BEST! Every student at FPS is encouraged to reach their potential in a culture that supports 21st century skills of resilience, collaboration and teamwork and reflects our school values - be respectful, be safe, be kind and be ready to learn.

Our Mission is …

We will provide learning opportunities in supportive and collaborative learning environments.

Our Vision is …

Students will realise their full potential, contributing to our school, our community and our world.

FPS staff are dedicated to lifelong learning and actively participate in ongoing professional learning and coaching to keep them abreast with current evidence based practices of teaching and learning. FPS staff are also highly committed to their students’ learning and focus on the learning needs of each individual student working with them to establish and achieve their learning goals. Our specialised programs such as Visual Arts, Chinese, an extensive Music program, Health and Physical Education and weekly visits to our Library, supports endeavour and encourages our students to explore, question and be curious learners and thinkers.

Role:

The role of the Transition and Cultural Safety Officer is to work across settings (Flemington PS, Debney Meadows PS and Ascot Vale West PS) to support engagement of African-Australian students and their families as they transition from primary to secondary school. The Officer will play a leading role to support schools and African-Australian students to be well-prepared, confident and excited about the transition into secondary school. Working alongside key professionals across these settings to identify individual needs and interventions that could be adopted to support students transitioning, providing every opportunity to experience early success and for positive engagement and wellbeing outcomes.

The Officer may also work more broadly with schools to increase school engagement, strengthening partnerships with families and community and facilitating activities to increase retention and school completion.

Responsibilities:

1. Support the work of the School Community Liaison Officers (one based at the primary schools and one at the secondary) and the development of the broader cultural diversity and inclusion approach for the precinct including:
   • building connectedness to school – particularly with building connections between Primary students and their families and Mount Alexander College
   • building cultural awareness and understanding – educating students, staff and the school community about other cultures and relationships
   • leveraging work across settings (including homework club providers) to support positive educational choices and empowering parents to be involved in their child’s learning
   • facilitating access to homework clubs and afterschool programs, to offer support and mentoring outside of the school
   • encouraging student voice and collaboration as part of the development of cultural diversity and inclusion policies.
2. Work directly with groups of African-Australian young people or individuals, planning interventions to ensure all young people are connected to an education or careers pathway and providing in class student support as agreed with each setting.
3. Establish and maintain effective communication between school communities and families (maintaining appropriate records) including using their own cultural and linguistic knowledge and skills to assist with school communication with families and the broader community, translating basic school notices and communication messages, convening information sessions for parents, supporting engagement of parents in parent teacher nights, school celebrations and information days.
4. Build on established links with African community organisations to access community guidance and knowledge and identify opportunities to build relationships with other community-based organisations to support the continuum of engagement between settings.
5. Provide regular implementation updates to each of the schools on progress against the agreed action plan.
6. Support the work of the School Community Liaison Officers (one based at the primary schools and one at the secondary) and the development of the broader cultural diversity and inclusion approach for the precinct including:
   • building connectedness to school – particularly with building connections between Primary students and their families and Mount Alexander College
   • building cultural awareness and understanding – educating students, staff and the school community about other cultures and relationships
   • leveraging work across settings (including homework club providers) to support positive educational choices and empowering parents to be involved in their child’s learning
   • facilitating access to homework clubs and afterschool programs, to offer support and mentoring outside of the school
   • encouraging student voice and collaboration as part of the development of cultural diversity and inclusion policies.
7. Work directly with groups of African-Australian young people or individuals, planning interventions to ensure all young people are connected to an education or careers pathway and providing in class student support as agreed with each setting.
8. Establish and maintain effective communication between school communities and families (maintaining appropriate records) including using their own cultural and linguistic knowledge and skills to assist with school communication with families and the broader community, translating basic school notices and communication messages, convening information sessions for parents, supporting engagement of parents in parent teacher nights, school celebrations and information days.
9. Build on established links with African community organisations to access community guidance and knowledge and identify opportunities to build relationships with other community-based organisations to support the continuum of engagement between settings.
10. Provide regular implementation updates to each of the schools on progress against the agreed action plan.

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and/or experience working with children in an educational context and the importance of successful transitions on student wellbeing and achievement outcomes.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and/or experience assessing the social, emotional and behavioural needs of children and developing and implementing a holistic intervention plan to support engagement, health and wellbeing and academic achievement.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders including children, families, educators, services and local community organisations involving individuals of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• A relevant qualification such as a Social Worker (or equivalent) and/or demonstrated experience in a similar role.

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
• The successful candidate will be required to work some hours during the school holidays. Regular work hours will be 9:00am to 4:00pm on weekdays. This may be negotiated as appropriate.
• The successful candidate will be eligible to claim time in lieu (TIL) where they are required to work in excess of their normal hours of duty.

Other Information:

Social Worker Qualifications or equivalent – fluent in North-East African language highly desirable.

Base location is at Flemington PS. Other locations include, Debney Meadows PS, Ascot Vale West PS, Mount Alexander College

Who May Apply:

• Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfil the specific requirements of the position

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.

DET Values:

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’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 DET values is available here.

EEO 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.

For more information, contact Name Amanda Williams Phone: 9376 7137

School Website: www.flemingtonps.vic.edu.au