Overview

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4

Occupation: Health and allied health

Location: Gippsland - Latrobe

Reference: 1536360

Location Profile

LATROBE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL

Latrobe SDS is located in Traralgon. It is one of two special schools in the Latrobe Valley and is the only Special Developmental School in the Gippsland region. The school caters for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Students travel from all over the Latrobe Valley and surrounding outlying areas to attend.

In 2022 we moved to a new purpose-built school site. Our facilities include: classrooms with attached kitchenettes, quiet spaces and toilets; art/homecrafts; STEM; tech/manufacturing; food technology; therapy spaces; multi-purpose hall; library; consulting rooms and staff work spaces. These are surrounded by stunning landscaping, bright and colourful playgrounds and open spaces including a basketball court, walking track and playing field.

Our dynamic team provides a stimulating educational program for students with significant intellectual and associated difficulties and disorders between ages of 4.8 to 18 years of age. Parents, staff and carers work collaboratively in planning educational and developmental programs for students. Student Support Groups are established for each student and emphasise the importance of a partnership between home and school in developing student goals. Our allied health team supports staff to develop programs which specifically target the learning goals of our students.

As a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Lead Respectful Relationship school we focus on the wellbeing and engagement of our students. Explicit teaching of our school values and expected behaviours provides students with the skills to self-regulate and actively participate in their learning. When behaviours arise, our tier 1 and tier 2 PBS teams provide support to staff to understand why the behaviour is occurring and teach students strategies specific to the skills needed to shift their behaviour. Parents are a key partner is this process so there is consistency between home and school.

School activities and programs focus on improving student learning outcomes and promoting greater independence. Staff encourage students to strive for excellence in all of their endeavours. To achieve this, the school provides sequential teaching and learning programs that deliver a comprehensive, broadly based and inclusive curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum. The development of student communication is a key component of each student¿s Individual Education Plan and central to the learning process.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic team as we begin our journey at our new school site.

Selection Criteria

SC 1
Demonstrated ability to provide speech pathology services to school-aged children with intellectual disability and/or ASD with language disorder to enable students to access the school curriculum.

SC 2
Demonstrated capacity to apply best practice strategies and processes to improve outcomes for children and young people with a variety of disabilities.

SC 3
Commitment to working collaboratively with others; accepting and acting on feedback; engaging in continual professional learning for self and others.

SC 4
Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience supporting students who have complex communication needs, requiring the use of augmentative and alternative communication.

SC 5
Demonstrated skills in:



developing effective and respectful relationships; modelling and explicitly teaching the school values.

Role

The speech pathologist will join a team to develop and implement a transdisciplinary teaming model, facilitating the education of students with intellectual disability and/or ASD with language disorder. The successful candidate will work collaboratively to develop and support student's individual program plans and complete the school's requirements for assessment and reporting, provide individual and group-based therapy services, consultancy with staff, students and families, and professional development for the school community.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate their commitment to active engagement with all aspects of school life. The work can be rewarding but demanding due to the complex needs of the learners. Applicants must be willing and able to:

- work collaboratively in transdisciplinary teams;
- develop, deliver and evaluate programs within the school¿s instructional model;
- be a reflective practitioner who is able to receive and act on feedback;
- work within the frameworks and guidelines determined by the leadership group.

Specialised professional roles will carry a high level of independence and accountability where suitable scope is provided to achieve objectives.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Responsibilities

- Delivers therapeutic services to students through education, assessment, support, and intervention
- Coordinate delivery of mandatory and relevant professional development for school staff
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to professional development
- Demonstrate a high level of ability to articulate issues and perspectives in communication with colleagues and others
- Contribute to classroom programs that support student¿s participation, independence, and skill development
- Assist the Allied Health Team Leader to:
- Support junior staff within the relative therapy stream
- Provide high level educational leadership in the school community and beyond
- Contribute to the building and maintenance of effective teams and develop co-operative working relationships that promote excellence within the educational and broader community
- Initiate, plan and manage significant change in response to new therapeutic directions.
- Coordinate clinical placement programs for undergraduate speech pathology students
- Support and promote holistic student learning within transdisciplinary practice framework
- Provide a child safe environment in accordance with the child safe standards
- Collaborates with transdisciplinary team to deliver programs and interventions relevant to their scope of practice
- Attends relevant meetings with the student and their team, such as Student Support Groups





The senior leadership team can request a speech pathologist to execute additional responsibilities to support the general functioning of the school.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of 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 versatile 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 [email protected]

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:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

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:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other Information

- 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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

Conditions of Employment

- 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 http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

Applications close Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

30 July 2026

📌 Speech Therapist (Gippsland)
🏢 Government schools
📍 Gippsland