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Location Profile Belmont High School is a large single campus co-educational secondary school south of the Barwon River in the regional city of Geelong with enrolments of approximately 1300students in 2026. We share boundaries with Roslyn Primary School and the Barwon Valley School (a specialist setting) and have had increasing cooperation and sharing with both in recent years. Camp programs operate at the school owned Tanybryn Campsite in the beautiful Otway Ranges. We have onsite access to BioLAB (the Victorian BioScience Education Centre) that specializes in human performance and sport. A vertical House (pastoral care) system operates for all year levels and is pivotal in delivering management, leadership and wellbeing for students and teachers. The Year 9 Strive Program also supports pastoral care for students with the provision of a significant teacher, and community and pathways based curriculum, as well as a camping program. We are an RTO to support the delivery of VET programs at the school for our own and other school students and offer students VCE and VCE Vocational Major programs. Significant leadership opportunities for students at both junior and senior levels of the school exist and an extensive co-curricular program supported by teachers exists to value add to students experiences. This includes many opportunities for overseas travel increasingly with a community focus, including World Challenge. The school has also consistently been the top school in the Geelong region in inter school carnivals and team sport and has a very large and successful music and performance program. The student population has become more culturally diverse over the past five years. The international student program adds to the cultural mix with students beginning their study in Australia with a school based EAL program in our English Language Centre prior to studying at appropriate year levels with mainstream students We have experienced continued growth in enrolments as a result of interest in our programs, and pathways at the senior end of the school as well as our growing international fee paying program. The school is accredited to offer a Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program, which has now operated for a number of years, and the school operates a student support centre for funded and unfunded students who require additional literacy and numeracy support. The Middle Years program caters for students in Years 7 and 8 and provides an innovative and engaging curriculum and pedagogy with a literacy and numeracy focus and individual learning plans for students. We offer two languages (Italian and Indonesian) both of which are growing in enrolment and both of which have sister school partnerships that see reciprocal visits. A small but active parent association conduct monthly meetings that see guest speakers from program areas in the school give regular presentations, and our School Council regularly sees the need for an election. To support our students we employ a Mental Health Practitioner as part of our Student Wellbeing Team. The Leadership consists of the Principal and 3 Assistant Principals with discrete portfolios and 16 Educational Leaders 8 Leadership Teacher, 8 House Leaders, 5 Leaders of Learning and 3 learning specialist. All Educational Leaders have a shared responsibility for addressing the goals of the AIP and SSP. Selection Criteria 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 schools 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. Role The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings. Operating in collaboration with the relevant 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; and 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. Education support class level 1 range 4 The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with 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 education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: Responsibilities 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. Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Who May Apply 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 Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) 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, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA). Diversity and Inclusion The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces.It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (seeWorkplace adjustment guidelines). Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via*******@ Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school. 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 available at: DE Values The department''s employees commit to upholding the department''s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department''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 department values is available at: 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