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Education Support Facilitator - Paws Pals Program

MacKillop Family Services

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We are looking for compassionate people that can be positive role models, give emotional support and are capable of building trust and rapport with staff and young people within our MacKillop Education Programs.

This is a Part-time / Fixed Term position (12 Month Contract – 0.3xEFT until 23/01/2023) based in Tyabb and may be required to travel to Maidstone on the occasion.

Vaccination against COVID-19 may be a requirement of appointment to this position.

Our offer:

  • Generous Salary Packaging up to $18,500 (helps increase your take home pay)
  • Ongoing Training and Development
  • Study Leave for ongoing employees
  • Career Development

Position purpose:

The central goal of MacKillop Family Services is to support, to foster hope and to promote justice for children, young people and their families, particularly those who experience distress, disadvantage and abuse. Education is central to that goal.

Children in Out-of-Home Care are a high priority client group of MacKillop Education, as are adolescents at risk of leaving school without vocational skills. MacKillop Education currently provides education support to these young people through outreach programs from four sites: Geelong, Maidstone, Warrnambool and Caulfield. We also offer education support through our Children in Residential Care Programs (CIRC) and the Western Education Support Team Program (WEST).

Our schools in Geelong (Foundation to VCAL), Maidstone (Years 3 to 6), and Caulfield (Foundation to Year 10, commencing with Years 3 to 6 in 2020) cater for students who are disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from education. The education programs provide flexible learning pathways and they equip participants with the skills they need to re-enter mainstream school, or, for senior students, to take up employment or further education options, including traineeships and apprenticeships.

The XTend Program in Geelong caters for young people aged 12 to 17 years, who are engaged with mental health services and/or child protection.

Our Outreach Paw Pals Program focuses on building student engagement and confidence and enhancing learning outcomes. This will be facilitated through Animal Assisted Educational (AAE) based activities and individualised learning sessions, working alongside trained therapy dogs and program facilitators. AAE is a planned and structured student intervention with specific academic and educational goals.

Primary Objectives:

  • To improve learning outcomes for children and young people in Out-of-Home Care and primary and secondary school settings, using a specialised Animal Assisted Education Curriculum
  • To foster a collaborative approach with educational and community services stakeholders
  • To ensure the Paw Pals Animal Assisted Education Program meets the complex needs of vulnerable and at-risk young people.

About you:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

  • Experience working with a therapy dog, in an educational setting
  • Relevant qualification and experience in working with animal assisted therapies, as well as owning a qualified therapy dog
  • Experience working with vulnerable and at-risk young people and an understanding of how trauma impacts on learning
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with staff teams and other stakeholders
  • Ability to work independently, to take initiative and a capacity for effective decision-making

For a full listing please view Position Description by following the ‘How to Apply’ steps below.

You must have a:

  • Valid and current Driver’s Licence;
  • Satisfactory Criminal History Check;
  • Valid Working with Children Check;
  • Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check

If you think you have the knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people and our team, then we want to hear from you!

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this position.

How to Apply: Click 'Apply for this Job' where you will be redirected to the Education Support Facilitator: Paws Pals Program vacancy within MacKillop's careers page.

Please make sure you address the selection criteria as outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Castle at [email protected] using the subject line: Education Support Facilitator - Paws Pals Program - Tyabb enquiry via EthicalJobs or on 0418 302 195

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible.

How to apply

This job ad has now expired, and applications are no longer being accepted.
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