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 Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch, Bayside Peninsula Area, South Eastern Victoria Region, SRS. The role reports to the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch Manager.

About the Role

The ongoing 1.0FTE  ‘Senior Program Advisor - Disabilities Coordinator' position is available for a tertiary qualified Education, Nursing, Disabilities Services or Allied Health professional who understands the legislated rights of students with a disability as well as having a sound understanding of broad educational policies and school based operational requirements.

The primary responsibility of this role is to lead the implementation of programs designed to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, including strategies that ensure inclusive practices and effective educational programs to support student with disabilities in schools from Foundation until year 12 and can work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure this.

The role contributes to and supports the inclusive education agenda by performing all roles required of the Disabilities Coordinator. Working within the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services branch, the role will work closely with other area staff, divisional staff and central staff. The Disabilities Coordinator will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within and across the area.

The role requires an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities.

The position works with schools and families in a way that promotes competency, strengthens families and schools and encourages collaborative planning for student learning needs.

The Disabilities Coordinator develops, builds and maintains close working relationships with regional staff and schools and develops effective linkages with relevant health and wellbeing service providers in the area. This includes finding innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases along with preparing high quality correspondence and briefings, whilst liaising with a range of stakeholders and management as required.

The position provides training and support for inclusive education and the effective implementation of the Program for Students with Disabilities and Disability Inclusion. The position also provides opportunities to develop and manage projects to drive change for schools to deliver effective educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Attributes

The successful candidate will demonstrate the below attributes to the panel:

• has an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities within the department policy and school context.
• identifies innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases.
• demonstrates effective interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills to support stakeholder understanding of inclusion within schools and prepare high quality reports, briefing and correspondence.
• effective project delivery inclusive of planning, engaging stakeholders, implementing, evaluating and reporting on outcomes.
• an ability to work with multiple stakeholders to support inclusion within schools  
• develops inclusion capability by improving the knowledge, skills, and ability of others.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: A relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (E.g. Education, Nursing, Disabilities Services or Allied Health)
• Desirable: Experience working with/ in school leadership teams and with school aged children where reasonable adjustments are required in an educational setting due to student additional needs or disability.

The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check and drivers licence.

How to Apply

Please apply by submitting your CV, a cover letter and a response to the key selection criteria stated within the position description. 

To assess your application the selection panel will consider your response to the key selection criteria relevant to the role description and attributes as stated above. 

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 Nicole Knight, Manager Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services via mobile 0425 216 246 or email Nicole.knight@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 23 May 2025