Student Support Services Occupational Therapist

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Division

Schools and Regional Services comprises 17 Areas within four regions across the state, as well as 5 central Divisions. Student Support Services (SSS) comprise the Allied Health professions of psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers, occupational therapists and behaviour analysts.

SSS staff are part of an Area based multi-disciplinary health, wellbeing, and inclusion team and, together with the Area school improvement team, help build the capability of schools to support student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing.  To achieve these outcomes, SSS work in a multidisciplinary way to plan and deliver services in collaboration with schools in a multi-tiered system of support. SSS services include consultation, provision of a range of strategies and specialised support at individual, group, classroom, school, and Area levels.

About the Role

Join our dynamic team as an Occupational Therapist where you will be primarily responsible for:

• Providing high level Allied Health support services to school age students to improve student learning.
• Undertaking advanced wellbeing interventions that support students and schools
• Assisting the coordination of student support services within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Contributing to student wellbeing policy development
• Providing leadership, professionally and operationally, within a multi-disciplinary student support team.
• Supporting teachers in the development of educational programs, particularly in respect to students with additional needs.
• Providing authoritative professional advice in relation to issues involving student wellbeing.
• Collaborating with and providing advice to other student support services team members in respect to complex cases.
• Liaising with community service organisations, DFFH, hospitals, specialist programs and other professionals regarding the support needs for students.

Attributes

Are you passionate about helping students achieve their educational goals?

You will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on young learners from diverse families by supporting their educational/developmental needs. You'll work in a vibrant, progressive community, enjoying professional growth opportunities and the chance to make a difference every day.

Your specialist expertise as a psychologist coupled with knowledge of student wellbeing issues and skills in providing consultation to a variety of stakeholders within the education community, will be highly regarded.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ability to provide expert consultation to schools, healthcare providers and families on evidence-based, best practices for speech and language development and intervention.
• Knowledge of student wellbeing issues, disability Inclusion, policies and experience working with schools will be highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience in the initiation, development and implementation of programs, procedures and policies that foster resilience in children and young people to support their educational needs.
• Experience in critical incident response, desirable.

• Experience working in schools and with children and youth, desirable.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and school leadership team to ensure holistic care, supporting student learning and wellbeing.

• Exceptional planning and organising skills, with an ability to be responsive, taking initiative and accountability for actions.

• Ability to work flexibly, as Student Support Services is a front-line service requiring rapid response.

Mandatory requirements

• A graduate or post-graduate degree in Occupational Therapy
• Full registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and registered through AHPRA.
• A valid Victorian Working with Children Check, and full Drivers' License is required for this position.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.  Applications should include a Cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria (no more than 2 pages) along with a Curriculum Vitae.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Ceilidh Eadie SSS Manager: 04•• ••• 381

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close midnight 24th August.