- Full time 1.0 FTE, Fixed Term until 31 December 2029
- Salary: $99,282 p.a. Plus Superannuation
- Location: Dandenong

Chisholm is seeking an experienced Specialist Programs Lead - Student Success and Equity to join our Student Support and Engagement team at Chisholm. BELONGING &

- INCLUSION

Chisholm is resolutely diverse. We celebrate our people’s unique contributions to achieving our ambition to transform lives through relevant and responsive high-quality education. Chisholm’s culture of Belonging &
- Inclusion strives to promote a self-regulating culture that enhances the experiences of our employees, students and communities.

About The Role The Specialist Programs Lead - Student Success and Equity, is responsible for leading the design, development and implementation of specialised support programs, initiatives and student support journeys that improve engagement, participation, wellbeing, retention and success for priority learner cohorts. The role also leads the delivery of the Victorian Early Leaver Connection Initiative (VELCI).

The role identifies barriers to engagement and academic success and develops targeted, evidence informed interventions that support learners from enquiry through to completion. A key focus is strengthening the early stages of the student journey through proactive engagement, early intervention and connection to appropriate internal and external supports. Using student feedback, engagement data and outcome insights, the role develops responsive approaches that meet the diverse needs of learners.

The role specialises in the development of targeted support pathways for students who require additional support, including apprentices, young people, culturally and linguistically diverse learners, students with out-of-home care experience, youth justice cohorts, scholarship recipients, LGBTQIA+ students, and women in non-traditional trades. The role works closely with the Walagunh Yulendji Unit and Equitable Learning and Disability teams to support shared priorities and strengthen outcomes for students with intersecting needs.

The Specialist Programs Lead is responsible for the delivery, continuous improvement and evaluation of VELCI and other specialised programs, including monitoring outcomes, meeting funding and compliance obligations, and overseeing reporting requirements. Where required, the role coordinates multidisciplinary case management and facilitates a team around the learner approach to ensure students with complex needs receive coordinated and holistic support.

About You

Qualifications and skills required for the role

You will have a relevant Degree and experience; or lesser formal qualifications with extensive experience with expertise in Community Services, Social Work, Youth Work,



Human Services, Education, Psychology or a related discipline; or equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education /training.

You are a highly motivated individual with

- Demonstrated experience designing, developing and implementing targeted programs, initiatives or services that improve outcomes for diverse or priority cohorts.
- Experience identifying barriers to participation and developing evidence-informed support pathways and interventions.
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects and initiatives from planning through to implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement.
- Experience working with young people and/or individuals experiencing educational, social, cultural or personal barriers.
- Highly developed stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across internal teams, community organisations and external service providers.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate integrated and student-centred support responses across multiple service areas.
- Experience interpreting data, insights and feedback to inform decision-making and service improvement.
- Experience managing project, program or operational budgets and monitoring resource utilisation.
- Strong report writing and communication skills, including the preparation of funding submissions, briefings, business cases and evaluation reports.
- Demonstrated experience managing funded initiatives, grants or strategic programs.
- Proven ability to lead, mentor or coordinate staff, project teams or multidisciplinary working groups.
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, cultural safety and trauma-informed practice.

About Us Chisholm is one of the largest vocational training providers in the state with a team of over 1,400 dedicated staff supporting 41,000 students who choose to study at Chisholm and training at our modern campuses across Melbourne’s southeast and online. We partner with governments, educational institutes, and businesses worldwide, sharing our expertise in vocational education. We offer over 400 courses that include nationally accredited pathways from secondary school programs and short courses, through to certificates, diplomas, and degrees.





At Chisholm, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people.

Chisholm has zero tolerance for child abuse and all forms of harm to children. All allegations and safety concerns will be treated consistently in accordance with Chisholm policy and procedure.

What We Offer

- An Inclusive work culture –
- Chisholm is resolutely diverse. We celebrate our people’s unique contributions to achieving our ambition to transform lives through relevant and responsive high-quality education
- Professional Development – continue to grow your career
- Networking Opportunities with Industrial Partners
- State of the art facilities on our campuses
- Free on-site parking as well as locations close to public transport
- Free Employee Assistance Program – get the support you want.

It’s confidential.

If this is the job for you, please apply online now. We look forward to receiving your application! Important information about your application

Your Application Should Include

- a cover letter
- your resume
- contact details of three (3) referees.

Please note, appointment to this position is subject to satisfactory completion of Safety Screening requirements including:
- Verified copies of qualifications and transcripts as listed in your resume
- Current valid Employee Working with Children Check (at own expense)
- Verified copy of unrestricted rights to work in Australia
- Verified National Police Check (at own expense)

If you have any questions regarding the position or require further information, please contact Kaine Reynolds, Acting Head of Student Support &

- Engagement at [email protected]

Applications for this position close 9am Monday 28 September 2026.

We are committed to a fair and equitable merit-based recruitment process for all our candidates. If you have specific accessibility or support requirements, please contact our Belonging &

- Inclusion Lead by emailing [email protected]

Chisholm reserves the right to withdraw an advertised position at any stage.

Find out more about us by visiting us on our Website and social media sites.

Position Description

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📌 Specialist Programs Lead- Student Success and Equity (Melbourne)
🏢 Chisholm Institute
📍 Melbourne