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. Demonstrate leadership and provide 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
1. Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse or occupational therapist. 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 must hold full registration with AHPRA
2. Have demonstrated direct counselling experience
3. Have a current Working With Children Check
Desirable
4. For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
5. For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian college of Mental Health Nurses.
6. For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
EEO AND OHS Commitment
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value 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 roles within the Department. 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. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see ).
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 801 or email on:
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
Flexable working arrangment, role is based on 5 days per fortnight.
Conditions of Employment
This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.
Location Profile
Benalla P-12 College is located in the Rural City of Benalla which is ideally located close to the Victorian snowfields and the major centres of Wangaratta and Shepparton. The town is surrounded by quality wineries and a variety of natural environments, with the Murray River only an hour away. Melbourne is easily reached in two hours along the Hume Freeway and the Melbourne to Wodonga railway line also runs through the city.
Benalla P-12 College was established in January 2013 as a result of the merger of all four government schools in Benalla. The College has a student population of approximately 870. We provide a vibrant teaching and stimulating learning environment that commences with Grade Prep and continues through the secondary years to VCE and VCAL.
Our College structure has 3 separate sites across the town:
Avon Campus (P-4)
Waller Campus (P-4)
Faithfull / Clarke Campus (5-12)
Each site has an Assistant Principal and there is also a College Principal.
The Benalla P-12 College vision is to ensure that every child learns and is prepared for the future through a commitment to excellence in teaching, high expectations and positive relationships in a safe and inclusive environment. Our College values of Respect, Responsibility, High Expectations and Integrity also drive our work and focus.
We provide our students with opportunities to develop leadership skills through a range of programs and formal leadership positions available on each campus. We recognise that a safe and orderly learning environment and high expectations are essential elements in ensuring that all our students learn and reach their full potential and we achieve this through the implementation of the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Program.
Students are well-known by their teachers at Benalla P-12 College, and high priority is placed on student wellbeing. We have a strong team of experienced and effective wellbeing staff to support our students to be at their best and ready to learn each and every day.
Staff at Benalla P-12 College work in teams and Professional Learning Communities. They plan collaboratively and use data to inform their teaching practice in line with our evidence based Teaching Cycle.