About Northern School for Autism
Northern School for Autism is a Victorian State Government specialist school that exclusively addresses the educational needs of students with autism ranging in age from 5 to 18 years. The school was established in 2006 and currently operates across two campuses located in Reservoir and Lalor. Reservoir is an Early and Middle Years campus; Lalor is a Later Years campus. The school also coordinates a satellite program at Norris Bank Primary School. Class groups generally comprise of six to ten students of similar chronological age. Teachers, teacher aides and therapists (speech pathologists and occupational therapists) work in teams of two or three in each classroom, supported by specialist teachers (PE, Art and Music) as well as a team of leading teachers. Northern School for Autism is a multi-campus school which strives to be a centre of excellence. Students are supported towards developing their personal and educational potential, so as to be valued contributors to family and community life. School values are trust, understanding, and safety.
The school is divided into sub-schools according to the stages of schooling (ages approximate):
- Early Years ~ 5 – 8 years
- Middle Years ~ 9 – 14 years
- Later Years ~ 15 – 18 years
The community of Northern School for Autism believes that to succeed in the world, students need to develop the capacity to:
- Manage themselves as individuals in relation to others
- Understand the world in which they live
- Act effectively in that world
What you’ll do
In collaboration with Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:
- Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
- Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns
- Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required
The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, with high level of autonomy and minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff. As an ES position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students but will not include duties of teaching.
Responsibilities include:
- Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes
- Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise
- Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk
- Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers
- Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students
- Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year
- Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent
The details
- Part time position,0.6 FTE
- Education support class level 1 range 4
- $90,522 to $106,733 per annum including superannuation
- Located in Reservoir/Lalor, VIC
What you’ll bring
- Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population
- Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention
- Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs
- Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate
- Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people
- Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information
Required:
- Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
- For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
- For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
- For Occupational Therapists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Counsellors, applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
- Demonstrated direct counselling experience
- A current Working With Children Check
Desirable:
- For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology
- For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
- For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark
- For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement
- For Counselling applicants, a Registered Clinical Counsellor registration level (PACFA) or a Level 3-4 registration (ACA)
Next Steps
Interested? Please view the full position description and selection criteria, and apply for the Mental Health Practitioner position here.
For further information about the position or application process, please contact Pamela Mathieson at (03) 9462 5990 or email [email protected]. Applications close on 31 May 2024.