Synergistiq

Synergistiq was established in 1990 and has established a highly-credible reputation over the past 30 years working with a wide range of clients, including government, community and the private sector organisations. Our vision is an Australia where everyone has equitable access to opportunity to reach their potential. Our purpose is to strengthen and measure social impact through education, employment and engagement. We do this by working in a range of complex policy areas, particularly education, community participation, justice, and health and wellbeing. We specialise in engaging meaningfully and positively with various stakeholders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, young people, newly arrived and emerging communities, and people living with disability.

School Council Training

Synergistiq delivers training across the state to Victorian public school councils. Victorian school councils are subject to legislation and regulations that guide their activities. Our training supports schools and their councillors to effectively enact those responsibilities.

Role Description/Activities

We require education professionals to facilitate School Council Training modules in the following areas:

• Governance
• Finance
• Strategic planning
• The role of President

The content for these modules is fixed and facilitator training is provided. Applicants can nominate two or more of these modules to facilitate. Our preference is that facilitators are trained in all four. Delivery of the content is either (i) face to face or (ii) in a virtual format through Zoom.

Facilitator training

All new facilitators are required to participate in training before delivering any modules. The Department of Education and Training provides training for new facilitators on module content. Synergistiq provides training on using the Zoom platform.

During 2020, in response to COVID-19 restrictions, our trainers facilitated all School Council Training virtually via the Zoom platform. We anticipate that in 2021, training will be delivered face to face and virtually but this will remain subject to any government restrictions.

Facilitator responsibilities

Facilitator responsibilities are to deliver the training and administer participant feedback. Synergistiq manages the booking arrangements, participant enquiries and provision of manuals. Facilitator responsibilities for the respective delivery formats are to:

Virtual live training

• Confirm bookings through Synergistiq’s booking portal and confirm details, where relevant, with a school
• Facilitate the Virtual Live Event
• Answer participant questions
• Administer participant feedback and communicate with Synergistiq

Face-to-face training

• Confirm bookings through Synergistiq’s booking portal and confirm details with a school
• Set up refreshments for participants and confirm registrations
• Facilitate the relevant module
• Answer participant questions
• Administer participant feedback and communicate with Synergistiq.

Key Selection Criteria

• Senior school leadership or departmental experience; ex principal or vice principal experience strongly preferred
• Presentation experience in an education context
• Knowledge of school councils
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Flexibility, adaptability, and good humour
• Professional demeanour
• A Working with Children Check and Police Check
• A current Victorian drivers’ licence

Value Add

• Online facilitation experience
• Polycom/WebEx experience
• Familiarity with the VAGO report on School Councils

Facilitators are paid on a per session basis and are reimbursed (where relevant) for their travel and ancillary costs. Synergistiq pays a small fee for participation in the facilitator training, once the facilitator has commenced delivering the modules.

Applicants are asked to provide a curriculum vitae and a short covering letter (max one page) describing experience and knowledge of the relevant training areas. Please nominate the modules that you would like to deliver and the delivery modes you are willing to facilitate (face to face, virtual, both). We encourage candidates to apply, even if they have little or no experience with online facilitation or the Zoom platform. All facilitators this year had previously delivered only face-to-face training, and were supported to transition successfully to virtual delivery, creating additional professional opportunities for them.