Teacher Aide - Special Learning Needs

Frankston Special Developmental School (SDS) is a unique dual campus School. The main Frankston Campus located in Karingal in the outer southern suburbs of Melbourne, while the residential outdoor Blackwood Campus is in the small township of Blackwood, 80km north-west of Melbourne and 140km from our Frankston Campus.

The School

The following values are seen as being central to the life of the school and how all members in the school community should conduct themselves: Sharing, Caring, Respect and Individuality.  The school vision statement Learning for life is the focus of all programs conducted at Frankston SDS.

Our school is committed to child safety, and it is a requirement that all of those working with children have an understanding of our Child Safe Code of Conduct and methods of identifying and following up suspected abuse.

Measurable goals are devised and progress is monitored throughout the year in all areas to ensure improved outcomes for the students.

Frankston Campus

The Campus has well equipped facilities for the students including: nineteen classrooms, a gymnasium, multi-purpose room, homecrafts room, art and craft room, computer lab and extensive play equipment. The school has recently undergone a significant renovation.

Frankston Campus provides a specialised and challenging curriculum for 125 school aged students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. The school challenges students to do their best in a supportive and engaging environment.

Students learn in active, practical and meaningful ways and the school aims to develop each child¿s ability academically, socially physically and emotionally. Our staff are dedicated, qualified professionals who are experienced in working with children with special, varied and often complex needs to provide the best education, self-esteem and independence building opportunities for the students. All staff model positive behaviour to students consistent with the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support Framework.

The Individualised Learning Programs created at Frankston aim to develop social competencies, communication and independence. They are implemented and monitored by a team of dedicated staff which includes teachers, teacher assistants, four speech therapists, a social worker, an occupational therapist, a chaplain and a physiotherapist.

Our Frankston Campus also provides an Early Education Program for pre-school aged students who exhibit significant global developmental delay. The Early Education Program operates out of the East Karingal Kindergarten. It is an inclusive program; our staff and students working together with their mainstream colleagues and friends. 

SC1 Demonstrated capacity to work with students with intellectual disabilities in a positive and caring manner.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work as a member of a team establishing positive relationships with colleagues, students and their families.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to work across all areas of the school with students who exhibit challenging behaviours.

SC4 Demonstrated capacity to apply knowledge obtained from professional learning to support student learning.

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

 Classroom Support. The Education SS will contribute to the effectiveness of the learning program by supporting the teacher with the day to day operation of the classroom. The ESS may assist individual students or a small group of students, when assisting with the implementation of the educational program. Preparation of teaching aids and the setting up of class activities prior to session. Clearing away of class activities at the end of each session. Assist the teacher with the unpacking of bags and settling of students as they arrive from the buses and in the afternoon assist with the packing and farewelling of students on their departure. Assist teachers with the settling in of new students. Organisation of classroom displays. Filing of work in pupil folders. Minor clerical or typing duties on an ad hoc basis, such as compiling student records. Recording, storage and maintenance, retrieval and distribution of classroom material. Assist students on an individual or group basis in specific learning areas. Assist in the communication between students and teachers, particularly in the implementation of instructions. Assist with the tidying up of the classroom at the end of each day by completing the cross infection prevention program in the following locations: kitchen, all door, table surfaces, toys, equipment and ensuring classroom laundry duties are attended to. Attendant Care. Assistance with toileting, dressing, showering - personal hygiene. Assistance with meals. Assistance with lifting and transfer where necessary to classrooms, playground, toilet, car/bus, recreation areas, therapy areas, etc. Assistance during paramedical and physical education sessions. Assistance during hydrotherapy and swimming programs. All assistants are expected to participate in the water during swimming sessions. Assist with the administration of medication as per medical management plans, under the supervision of the classroom teacher. General Duties. Assistance with the supervision of students in playgrounds - recess and lunchtime duties, excursions, and in sporting activities. Participation in team meetings. Participation in the monitoring and evaluation of programs. Participation in the monitoring and evaluation of individual student's involvement and achievement. Driving the school vehicles, subject to the employee's agreement. Assisting with the loading and unloading of the school bus. Carrying out student programs and other tasks as requested by the classroom teacher or principal. Attendance at designated staff meetings. Conduct a program for a small group of students under the supervision of the classroom teacher/therapist. Cleaning of playground areas. Complete rostered staffroom responsibilities. Specific Duties. The following specific duties will be a requirement of the position, additional to the above duties: Assist and support students with extremely challenging (aggressive) behaviours on a student specific (one to one) basis, in the areas of attendant care, (toileting, personal hygiene), classroom support and behaviour management. Under the supervision of the classroom teacher, implementation of specific educational programs as reflected in the student's Individual Learning Plan. Curriculum support will include the following program areas: Swimming Homecrafts Bike Education Physical Education Language Activities. 

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

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 (see Workplace 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 *******@education.vic.gov.au

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.

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:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

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:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

• 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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

• 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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx