Student Support Officer (SSO)
Nautilus (Port Macquarie) College
Part Time or Full Time Role available
Do you have what it takes to make a truly transformational impact in young people's lives?
Join an organisation that is changing the landscape of specialist schooling as we enter an exciting growth phase.
Working with Mid North Coast Community College's Special Assistance School offers the right person a unique opportunity to further the success of our special assistance school campus in Port Macquarie .
Primary Purpose of SSO Role
Student Support Officers work within the school and college community to enhance student wellbeing and learning outcomes in partnership with the wellbeing team. Student Support Officers provide individual and targeted wellbeing support and whole of college wellbeing initiatives and programs that are evidence-based. They have a pivotal role in working collaboratively with external agencies and creating referral pathways for students and families to child and family support agencies.
Key accountabilities for SSOs
• Improve the wellbeing, resilience and pro-social behaviours of students by working in partnership with the wellbeing team to prioritise and deliver individual, small group and whole-school evidence-based programs and strategies.
• Enhance student learning and wellbeing outcomes by identifying and establishing support networks for students with staff, the school community, and locally-based government services and community agencies.
• Support transition, between schools and post-school enrolments by working with transition coordinators and external providers.
• Facilitate student referrals to external providers by establishing and maintaining referral pathways with appropriate local services.
• Support data collection processes to evaluate and feedback on school-based wellbeing programs and strategies.
• Support the implementation of departmental student wellbeing priorities, whole-school wellbeing programs and build positive community relations.
• Transport students daily to and from home or to and from appointments as directed, in accordance with our code of practice.
Key challenges for SSOs
• Understand the impact of child and adolescent development, mental health, cultural identity, and gender diversity on student wellbeing, while maintaining empathy, reserving judgement and respecting student privacy.
• Supporting students and their families to identify and access external services that meets their needs.
• Work flexibly and adapt to the changing needs of the school community to provide timely and appropriate wellbeing support.
Student support officers work in schools to enhance the wellbeing and learning outcomes of students. They come from a diversity of backgrounds. An SSO may have a certificate or higher qualification in social work, youth work or other related discipline such as community service. They all have experience working with young people to improve their wellbeing and mental health. SSOs work closely with the school's wellbeing team.
SSOs support the implementation of the school's whole-of-school approach to wellbeing, helping students develop social and emotional skills through targeted strengths-based programs and strategies that build resilience, coping skills and positive relationships.
They also have a pivotal role in working collaboratively with external and other government agencies in their support of students and their families.
Working as an important part of the school's wellbeing team, the SSO supports students along the care continuum as needed.
The continuum of care includes interventions for:
* all students
* prevention and early intervention programs such as anti-bullying, social skill development and health programs.
* providing early intervention and targeted support for students at risk. This is usually done through group work, for example, more targeted social-emotional skill development or mentoring programs.
* providing some individual support for students. This could be checking in with a student through a caring conversation or referring them to appropriate supports within the school setting or to an external agency.
Essential requirements:
* a completed certificate III with commitment to achieve a higher qualification in social work, youth work, welfare or related discipline
* Current Drivers licence
* Commitment to our staff development program
* Valid and current Working With Children Check (WWCC).
Desireable Requirements
* Light Rigid Licence or willing to obtain prior to commencement. The school has 12 and 24 seater bus.
* A Certificate IV TAE would be an advantage or willing to obtain
This is non-teaching school based position.
Student Support Officers who are Full Time are remunerated for 52 weeks per annum, required to work for 48 weeks pa with 4 weeks recreation leave. Student Support Officers will be required to attend work during school vacations unless they are accessing approved leave.
This role reports to the Co-Principal and Student Support Officer Coordinator
Only applications submitted through SEEK will be considered
Please submit your resume and copies of your qualifications and WWCC to Manaia Chou-Lee, Co-Principal, by 20th September 2025. Negotiable start date subject to notice period required.