About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

Inclusive Education Division

The Inclusive Education Division (IncED) has a central role in achieving the Education State Agenda by ensuring that all students will have access to the same quality education, regardless of their background or circumstance. This is reflective of our ambition to ensure students with disability and additional needs are engaged and active learners and are provided with the skills, knowledge and attributes they need to succeed in work and life. Specifically the purpose of the Division is to:

• Lead the Department's efforts to implement policy and programs and enhance service delivery to improve educational and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people with disability and additional needs.
• Focus on how the education system can better support children and young people with disability. This includes implementation of inclusive education reforms and oversight of the Government's $1.6 billion Disability Inclusion reform.
• Work across the Department and other government departments and agencies to develop and lead policy and initiatives to maximise the access, participation supported transition and achievement of children and young people with disability and additional needs.
• Build the capability of regional and school-based staff to improve inclusive education frameworks, interventions and practices within regions, schools and early childhood settings. This includes Student Support Services, behaviour, trauma and mental health. Insert paragraph with details on Division/Branch

About the Branch

Inclusive Education Professional Practice Branch. The Inclusive Education Professional Practice (IEPP) Branch builds the capability of regional and school-based staff to implement improved inclusive education frameworks, interventions and practices by:

• Focusing direction on the development of an organisational culture that establishes and sustains a consistent and supportive school environment for all students
• Cultivating collaboration to inform, develop and support inclusive education practices that recognise the unique characteristics of Victoria's education system and meet local demands
• Providing a practical model of tiered intervention support where leaders and education professionals can identify the capability required to build a learner's cognitive, emotional and social capabilities
• Deepening professional learning to build teacher knowledge, capabilities and attitudes to improve the educational outcomes for all students.

About the Role 

The Victorian Public Service seeks a driven and innovative Senior Project Advisor to join our dynamic team. If you have expertise in strategic communications, comprehensive evaluation procurement and design, and possess a strong ability to communicate with impact, we invite you to apply.

This role will focus on supporting the delivery of the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) initiative—a broad range of systemic and individualised strategies designed to help schools achieve critical social and learning behavioural outcomes while preventing problem behaviour. The Senior Project Advisor will be instrumental in ensuring SWPBS implementation is seamless, efficient, and impactful.

We are seeking a skilled and driven Senior Project Advisor to join our team and play a pivotal role in advancing the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) initiative. If you are organised, data-savvy, problem solution focussed and thrive in a collaborative environment, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Communications: Develop, refine, and execute strategic communication plans that support SWPBS implementation and other high-priority projects. Engage stakeholders effectively, ensuring clear and impactful messaging across all levels.
• Project Implementation, Monitoring and management: Develop, monitor and lead on individual project plans crucial for the successful roll out of SWPBS and other key projects. Collaborate closely with stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and execute project stages.
• Operational Support: Work with key stakeholders to identify and address operational issues as they arise, providing real-time solutions to facilitate project progress.
• Evaluation Processes: Lead the design and coordination of comprehensive evaluation processes to assess project outcomes and identify areas for improvement, using insights to refine strategies and optimize results.
• Government Writing: Draft high-quality reports, briefings, and other communication materials that adhere to government standards and convey complex information in an accessible manner. Develop reports for government bodies and stakeholders, while also creating informative documents that communicate the progress and outcomes of the SWPBS initiative.

Additional Responsibilities: Assist with other tasks related to the work of the Branch as required, contributing to broader team goals and enhancing the impact of branch initiatives.

Stakeholder Management: Engage and manage key relationships with partners involved in the implementation across various systems, ensuring strong collaboration and communication.

Attributes

As a Senior Project Advisor, you will demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, effectively addressing complex issues with innovative solutions and ensuring swift responses to challenges while maintaining alignment with project objectives. You will foster a culture of innovation, actively exploring new ideas, methodologies, and technologies to enhance project outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

This position requires the successful applicant to demonstrate a solid level of initiative, expertise, experience and significant knowledge in program and project management and evaluation as well as experience in developing, implementing, and customising program and project processes and systems. 

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

A Bachelor degree in a relevant field is desirable.

Required: Proven experience in a senior project advisory or similar role, ideally within the public sector or education system.

Demonstrated skills in strategic communications, project delivery, government writing, and high-level evaluation processes.

Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement abilities.

A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.

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 Tania Last on tania.last@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 at 11:59 on Sunday 20th July 2025