Role
The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses.
Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:
provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health needs;
coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required; and
enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.
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 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:
Responsibilities
1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.
3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
4. Provide leadership and professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ learning and developmental outcomes.
5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.
Please note:
• The relevant enterprise agreement underpinning this position is the .
• Continued professional learning 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:
1. hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in:¿Social Work
2. Occupational Therapy
3. Nursing with a mental health specialisation
4. Psychology.
5. have demonstrated direct counselling experience.
6. have a current Working With Children Check.
For Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist and Occupational Therapists, applicants must hold full registration with the requisite professional body.
For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Desirable
7. For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
8. For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
9. For Occupational Therapist applicants, hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.
10. For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
EEO AND OHS Commitment
The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
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 DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’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 DET values is available at
Other Information
Please ensure that your application includes:
11. a resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
12. a section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
13. names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees
Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.
Conditions of Employment
14. All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
15. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
16. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
17. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at
Location Profile
This position is listed as Mental Health Practitioner (3 days per week) - with the potential to negotiate the time fraction/hours for the sucessful applicant.
Salary ES Level 1 Range 4 - $89, to $105, (pro-rata)
Upper Yarra Secondary College is located in Yarra Junction in the Yarra Valley, 65 kilometres from Melbourne. Our enrolment is steadily increasing and currently is 650. Many of our students travel extensive distances to attend school from outer rural communities. The College is well regarded for supporting its students with a safe, healthy and supportive environment that nurtures self-esteem, leadership qualities, talent, curiosity and optimism for the future, providing them with a base to become responsible members of the College and the broader community. Our students come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, with an SFO of
The College leadership profile includes 5 Leading Teachers (Curriculum, Junior, Middle and Senior-Sub-School). The College staff supports our students by working in Year Level teams led by a Team Leader. The teams are responsible for overseeing curriculum, pedagogy and wellbeing and student management for students within their Year Level. We have a strong wellbeing team and run a Youth Clinic one day per week, and work on a five day timetable consisting of five 1hr periods.
We provide a range of curriculum choices including VCE, VET and VM that support pathways to a wide range of destinations including Universities, TAFE, apprenticeships and employment. Students develop close relationships with staff via daily contact in our Year Level teams approach. Student leadership is promoted within a range of opportunities within the College, SRC, College Captains, Peer Support, Duke of Ed and Sports Leadership programs.
Innovation and Future Directions
1. The College completed their review in 2022 with future directions being linked to Literacy and Numeracy, community engagement and promotion of high expectations in all areas of the College.
2. A model of Inquiry Learning developed at Upper Yarra Secondary College is now well established in Years 7 and 8. FLIP (Future Learners Inquiry Program) has elements of an Open Plan learning environment, closer attachments of fewer teaching staff for more time with students, an integrated inquiry-based approach to curriculum delivery, and enhanced processes that focus on more personalised learning for students through engagement of activities that relate to a variety of learning styles.
3. Innovations in reading and writing programs including Independent Reading, Readers and Writers Workshops have been developed and are having an impact on teaching practice and student engagement and achievement. A Sharing Classrooms program has also had an impact on improving pedagogy. Teachers engage in Professional Learning Teams and, via the focus on research outcomes, employ strategies discussed into classroom practice, in an Action Research model.
Other Information
This position is listed as Mental Health Practitioner (3 days per week) - with the potential to negotiate the time fraction/hours for the sucessful applicant.
Salary ES Level 1 Range 4 - $89, to $105, (pro-rata)
Selection criteria must be addressed.