About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Group

Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

This role is located in the School Inclusive Practice Unit, Student Wellbeing and Engagement Division, North Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The School Inclusive Practice Unit provides support to improve whole school and classroom practices to meet the educational needs and aspirations of students with disability and learning difficulties, including neurodevelopmental differences like dyslexia and autism. The role of the unit includes providing:

• Strategic outreach to selected school leaders to further build capabilities and improve practice at the whole school level to meet the educational needs and aspirations of students with learning difficulties, including neurodevelopmental differences (‘diverse learners') through the Diverse Learners' Hub
• Coordinated professional learning and support delivered by Inclusion Outreach Coaches with specialised knowledge and expertise that focuses on strengthening pedagogical classroom practices in inclusive education.

About the Role

The Department of Education is committed to building a more inclusive education system, one that ensures every student with disability can thrive at school and in life.

The department is delivering Disability Inclusion to transform the way students with disability are supported in Victorian government schools. Disability Inclusion will provide a range of supports, tools, guidance and training to ensure schools can provide an inclusive environment for all members of their school community. Disability Inclusion will also deliver, over a five-year rollout, a new tiered funding approach and strength-based process to identify students' strengths and needs.

The Inclusion Outreach Coaching Coordinator will be based regionally and will report to the School Inclusive Practice Manager within the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Division. 

The Coordinator role will support the Manager in inclusive education capability building, but primarily focus on the development and delivery of the Inclusion Outreach Learning Specialists' workforce that provides coaching, collaboration, professional learning and support to schools, through the Inclusion Outreach Coaching initiative.

Inclusion Outreach Coaching Initiative:

This is a new system initiative delivered within the broader Disability Inclusion reform program. The initiative will support mainstream schools to implement inclusive practices with support and expertise from Inclusion Outreach Learning Specialists. Inclusion Outreach Learning Specialists will be based in specialist schools, but a significant portion of their role will be working in local network mainstream schools.

Inclusion Outreach Coaching Coordinator:

The role will work in a small regional team and will also receive regular support from the Central Inclusion Outreach Coaching team. They will work closely with schools, Inclusion Outreach Learning Specialists delivering coaching to mainstream schools from specialist schools, and other Area and Region workforces so will require strong interpersonal skills.

The Inclusion Outreach Coaching Coordinator will:

• Coordinate professional learning and coaching opportunities; facilitate collaborations between a range of educational settings
• Triage requests for support by schools, including managing referrals and deploying provision of support
• Directly communicate with schools and build partnerships with Area and Region coaching workforces and other personnel to ensure collaborative provision of support to schools, using a ‘Team Around the School' approach
• Support Inclusion Outreach Coaching Workforces in the delivery of coaching , including monitoring implementation and evaluation data; identifying areas for training and development 
• Collect and analyse impact data and identify the need for inclusive education professional learning or areas for continuous improvement
• Provide guidance, resources and advice to schools 
• Support the development and use of Inclusion Outreach Coaching implementation tools and materials.

The Coordinator will have adept stakeholder skills to work with Regions, Areas and central staff collaboratively, with sound data literacy skills to identify important data trends regarding areas of requirement for capability support.

Attributes

• Collaborates across systems to coordinate inclusive support with schools, Area and Region teams.
• Manages referrals and deploys coaching based on school needs.
• Supports workforce capability through coaching, training, and guidance.
• Uses data to drive improvement and evaluate impact.
• Develops tools and resources to strengthen inclusive practice.

Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable: Relevant experience in schools and/or education system

• Desirable: Relevant tertiary qualification in education, disability, allied health, or another relevant field

• Desirable: Understanding of evidenced based implementation science approach within Education.

How to Apply

All applicants should address the key selection criteria and include a curriculum vitae, providing the names and contact details of three confidential referees, who would be able to support suitability for the role.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values 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 more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Maria Saric – acting School Inclusive Practice Branch Manager via 0419 352 192 or mariarosa.saric@education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Monday 12 May 2025