Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School is seeking applicants who display an understanding of the teaching and learning of students with special needs and who are committed to their profession.
Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School is an expanding school, providing education for children ages 5-18 years with intellectual and associated disabilities. The school enrolment is approximately 115 students. We follow the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Pathways Certificate for senior students. The curriculum is based on individual needs and abilities and designed to be motivating, challenging and flexible with a significant focus on life skills and personal development.
The major emphasis is on literacy with a focus on reading, developing oral language and social skills. We believe that all our students need to be given a voice and the staff are dedicated to making the most of the school resources to achieve this goal.
The school has a strong wellbeing culture. In 2016 the school launched the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) program. This evidence-based approach supports positive school culture by creating safe, inclusive learning environments defined by proactive whole school systems to define, teach and support appropriate student behaviours.
Inclusion is of vital importance to our community and links with mainstream schools and local sporting clubs are facilitated through community partnerships. The school promotes inclusion of all cultures, religion and gender identities and where local history, heritage and the values of the nation’s first people can be explored and celebrated. Inclusion is promoted in our community and links with mainstream.
Family connections are vital and their continued support is greatly valued. Student wellbeing is a high priority and contact with most families on a daily basis provides holistic support not only to students but to caregivers. Our families come from a diverse background spread over a large geographical area.
Many of our students have high paramedical needs. Access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychologist services is provided as required. Specialised therapy and augmented communication equipment are available to support these programmes.
The school prides itself on having an open and welcoming environment that encourages parent and community participation. Links with the community are encouraged. The school plays host to students on work experience, or community service programmes as well as providing onsite training for staff from local mainstream schools. We recognise and appreciate the challenging nature of the job and are proud of the professional commitment of all our staff.
Our school offers:
- Excellence in Education - High quality teaching tailored to the individual
- A curriculum designed to allow students to develop to their full potential.
- Highly trained and dedicated staff, highly respected by the greater community.
- A secure and supportive environment catering for all physical, emotional and intellectual needs.
- A strong emphasis on assisting the students to develop interpersonal skills readying them for life beyond school.
- A strong student wellbeing culture, where each child’s needs are of top priority.
- An outstanding team approach to teaching and managing the students.
- Solid partnerships with parents, local disability services and the broader community.
Selection Criteria
SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.
SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
Role
The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.
As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.
Classroom teacher Range 2:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved
Classroom teacher Range 1:
- Support the development of strategies that strengthen the learner’s relationships and ability to learn and demonstrate progress; address concerns and challenge assessment data, and join the curriculum and assessment teams to use student data as a tool to manage expectations and make adjustments when necessary.
- Assist in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop a curriculum that is engaging and developing the learning needs.
- Assist teams in learning needs and encouraging growth among students.
Responsibilities
The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:
- Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;
- Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;
- Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;
- Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;
- Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.
Who May Apply
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
Diversity and Inclusion
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
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.
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:
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:
- 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
This position has been advertised as part of the Regional Relocation Incentives (RRI) and includes retention payments. Payments are only applicable and payable if the successful candidate meets the candidate eligibility criteria.
Payments and support on offer (subject to candidate eligibility criteria, see below):
- Reimbursement of relocation expenses (up to $5,000) and support to identify suitable housing.
- $10,000 (before-tax) retention payments (pro-rata for positions less than full-time), at the conclusion of the second, third and fourth years of employment, for a total of up to $30,000 (before-tax). Each retention payment is subject to successful completion of employment milestones.
RRI candidate eligibility criteria:
- The successful candidate must be a new employee to this school.
- The successful candidate must remain employed at this school for 2 years to receive their initial retention payment, and remain for subsequent years for the third-year and fourth-year payments.
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:
- The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
- if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures';
- a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements (this condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian ITE program completed by the person).
For further information on Australian Bureau of Statistics, ASGS Edition 3 Remoteness Areas area classifications, or to review a particular school or ordinary place of residence address, refer to ABS Maps, via Australian Bureau of Statistics (select filter 2021 Remoteness Area).
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