• Experienced educational leader
• EAL, Vocational and Applied Learning
• Trauma-informed practice
• Passion for changing lives through education

The River Nile School (RNS) is a registered, independent, specialist senior-secondary school delivering Applied Learning curriculum to young women from Humanitarian refugee backgrounds who have had disrupted schooling or are struggling to cope with mainstream school. We are also a registered charitable organisation that delivers everything we do with our students for free.

All students who attend RNS have English as an Additional Language (EAL) so developing student levels of language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) is a central focus. As many of our students have experienced complex trauma, we embrace a Trauma-informed Practice lens to support student wellbeing and regulation and build engagement and learning. Our team takes a personalised mentoring approach, empowering students to address the complex challenges and trauma in their lives by building respectful relationships which strengthen their progress, success and achievements. Each student is supported to plan a career pathway specific to their aspirations and goals as they transition from our school.

Based in North Melbourne, 2022 is our sixth year as a school. RNS grew out of the River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC) established in 2006 to assist the African refugee community. Since then, we’ve grown substantially, and our student cohort now comprises young women from many regions. As a growing school filling a unique gap in the education sector, we are striving to build strong foundations to empower young migrant women, to gain the language, life and work skills to integrate and thrive in our community.

RNS has 100 students and a 30-person team, including 10 registered teachers and 10 allied professionals with social/youth work, multicultural engagement and refugee health expertise. Our team brings different and overlapping strengths, skills and experiences to provide a holistic response to students’ educational needs in a respectful and productive learning environment.

For further information view: http://www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au and RNS YouTube Clip

POSITION DESCRIPTION

This position provides leadership, direction and support across our education team, to ensure we are skilfully engaging our young migrant women with their education to empower them to build a positive future. The capability to build and strengthen a positive school culture consistent with the RNS Vision, Values and Strategic Plan is essential. The incumbent must have demonstrated ability to think creatively, anticipate and solve problems, to support our flexible school operational model, which is essential to our work as a reengagement school that enrols students with complex backgrounds across the school year.

The Assistant Principal will also have responsibility for governance, compliance, policy and practice development and delivery in all areas connected with student outcomes. The incumbent will be required to support school leadership and staff across the school to develop and embed processes and practices to ensure effective student management and engagement across the school.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership of educational model, curriculum, reporting and assessment

• Lead the development of a school learning community that supports a culture of high expectations and high-quality learning for every student.
• Overall accountability for the delivery high-quality vocational EAL curriculum and co-curricular programs that prepare students for successful post school pathways – in life, work and further study.
• Teach at least one class in an area of subject expertise and model excellent teaching practice.
• Lead and manage the development of the school’s assessment and reporting policies and practice; and foster a culture of continual improvement and review.
• Manage the collection, analysis and evaluation of data to inform strategic planning.

Leadership of students

• Relate and connect with students to achieve a level of connectedness that is engaging, reflects a high level of personal commitment and is in touch with current student needs and life challenges.
• Take a caring interest in the students and their welfare and a supervisory role in maintaining the school’s tone, standards and engagement expectations.
• Be committed to ensuring all those engaged in our school promote the fundamental rights of all children and young people to be respected and nurtured in a physically, emotionally and culturally safe, respectful and inclusive school environment. This includes being a champion of Child Safe policies and practices.
• Commit to knowing each student and their strengths, aspirations and challenges and proactively participating in student reviews and supporting complex student re-engagement.

Leadership of staff

• Support and inspire staff performance in embracing the school’s educational strategies and philosophies, be committed and passionate about what they do and deliver the defined outcomes.
• Develop and coordinate a cohesive educational team through professional development, performance management, mentoring and formal and informal supervision.
• Ensure all students are valued, connected and supported and experience success by ensuring positive student/teacher/staff relationships are the foundation for solid learning outcomes.
• Process oversight for teachers aspiring to gain full VIT registration.

Leadership of daily operations and other matters

• Daily school/student operational management – teachers, students, classes, daily attendance, timetabling, unplanned adjustments, troubleshooting, managing teacher absenteeism / CRTs and general daily school coordination.
• Management of School Handbooks for staff and students.
• Manage and implement special projects as defined and required by the Principal (for example, Respectful Relationships or eSmart).
• An ability to work with parents/carers and the community to develop the school and build supportive partnerships and connections.
• Work with the Principal to deliver on the next 5-year Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026.
• Work with the Principal to ensure VRQA minimum standards and other governance and compliance requirements for the conduct of a school are satisfied.
• Support, lead and perform other duties and responsibilities as directed by the Principal or delegate.

General Selection Criteria

1. Clear capacity to meet the needs of EAL learners from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, many with complex trauma and/or low literacy.
2. Outstanding teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice, preferably in a flexible applied learning setting.
3. Demonstrated success in implementing curriculum planning, with skill and initiative, attuned to students’ needs.
4. Leadership skills to manage people well and build the capacity and performance of individuals and teams and support staff wellbeing.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate effectively with a diverse range of professional staff (teachers/trainers, student support workers and external stakeholders).
6. Ability to implement change within a flexible school setting in a rapidly changing world.

Qualifications, experience and credentials

• Masters level qualification in Education, Educational Leadership, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Learning Intervention or similar.
• Minimum 5 years leadership experience, preferably in working with young adult students from diverse backgrounds in a school setting.
• Victorian Institute of Teaching – full and current registration.

Employment Conditions

• Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience; access to the tax-effective salary packaging; training and development opportunities, and an employee assistance program.
• Appointment of the successful applicant will be subject to:
  • Reference checks
  • A satisfactory Pre-Employment Disclosure Declaration
  • Evidence that the applicant has completed training in Child Safety prior to commencement
    (a DET link to on-line training for non-government schools will be provided).
  • National Police Check – willingness to apply for.
• A 6-month probationary period will apply, and induction and professional support programs will be provided.
• The position reports to the Principal.