Role
The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.
Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:
1. Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
2. Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and
3. Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.
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 the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022:
Responsibilities
4. Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
5. Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
6. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectlively manage risk.
7. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
8. Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
9. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
10. Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.
Please note: Continued professional development 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
11. Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse or occupational therapist. Specifically:
12. For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
13. For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
14. For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
15. For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
16. Demonstrated direct counselling experience
17. A current Working With Children Check.
Desirable
18. For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
19. For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
20. For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
21. For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
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 DE’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DE’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 DE values is available at:
Other Information
22. All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
23. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
24. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
25. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at
Conditions of Employment
26. All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
27. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
28. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
29. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at
Location Profile
Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School is the local community Specialist school within a very wide catchment area across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges. Empowering students towards independence through a command of social competency, communication and mobility” ,Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School is a dual mode school that supports students diagnosed as having an intellectual disability.
Approximately 45% of students have a diagnosis of autism as well as intellectual disability and many students have additional diagnosis’ that include physical disability, social and emotional disorders, vision and hearing impairment and complex medical needs.
Our school aims to maximise the intellectual, physical and social potential of each learner through a partnership with parents and carers. 57% of students have an IQ of 50 or below and 42 % of students have an IQ of between 50 and 70 and 1% of the students do not have a recognised intellectual disability and are DET approved alternative placements
The school has two equally unique campuses that are located approximately 30 minutes apart. The school has received in excess of $20 million of funding, across 4 separate funding packages, in the past strategic plan period.
The Sunbury campus was established in 1998 and is located within Heritage listed buildings in Sunbury in the site of what was once an Institution.
Students between years and grade 6 equivalent attend the Primary campus, along with a very small cohort of students of secondary school age as is the wish of their parents and most often this is with due consideration to their medical needs.
The Bullengarook campus was established in 2008 and is on the grounds of what was once a very small and recently closed primary school. Extensive works have taken place at the campus over the past 4 years. Building project 2 was funded at around $5 million and commenced in 2019. The building project was completed at the end of 2020 and includes a new administration area adjacent to an indoor multi-purpose room, a music room, toilets and commerciall kitchen are all contained within the new large building. Additional works include a stand alone art room, a materials technology facility and an automotive facility that will have a dual purpose in being able to be used for Bike Education. The building project also has transformed the existing multi-purpose room into staff facilities.
The Bullengarook campus is included on the Bushfire at Risk Register as it located in a high fire risk area. The school has experienced consistent annual student growth and with the completion of the final Capital Project in 2022 the school will see a ceiling imposed at 288 students.
Student enrolments at the school is 274.