Overview

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 3

Occupation: Education and training

Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs

Reference: 1542685

Selection Criteria

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

- Experience working with young people, families, schools and/or community organisations, particularly within culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to supporting Pasifika heritage students, families and communities.
- Demonstrated ability to build strong, respectful and trusted relationships with young people, parents, carers, community leaders and organisations.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, including the ability to develop partnerships with local Pasifika community organisations and services.
- Ability to work collaboratively with school staff, families and community organisations to identify barriers to student and family engagement and develop appropriate responses.
- Strong communication, organisation and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate and facilitate programs, workshops, forums, activities and community events.
- Demonstrated commitment to student voice, leadership, cultural safety, inclusion and community empowerment.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Ability to work respectfully and effectively with people from diverse Pasifika cultural, linguistic and community backgrounds, with an understanding of the different experiences and strengths within Pasifika communities.

Role

The School Community Liaison Officer will support the school community to increase engagement, strengthen partnerships with Pasifika families and community, and facilitate activities that support student participation, retention and school completion. The SCLO will work directly with Pasifika students and families and collaborate with school staff and community organisations to identify needs, develop culturally responsive strategies and connect students and families with appropriate supports and opportunities.

The SCLO will also participate in relevant professional learning, communities of practice and Department of Education activities associated with the Place-Based Partnerships initiative.

The role will contribute to regular reporting, data collection and evaluation requirements of the program.

Responsibilities

1. Student Engagement The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Establish and maintain positive and respectful relationships with Pasifika students.
- Work directly with individual students and groups to identify barriers to engagement and participation.
- Support targeted interventions that assist students to remain connected to education.
- Provide appropriate mentoring, encouragement and advocacy.
- Support students to identify their strengths, aspirations and future education or career pathways.
- Create opportunities for student voice, leadership and participation.
- Facilitate activities that respond to the needs and interests of Pasifika students.

2. Family Engagement The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Establish and maintain solid relationships with Pasifika parents, carers and families.
- Strengthen communication between students, families and the school.
- Facilitate information sessions to support families to better understand the Victorian education system and school processes.
- Encourage and support parent and carer participation in parent-teacher meetings, information sessions, school celebrations and other school activities.
- Identify barriers to family engagement and work collaboratively with the school and community to address these.
- Connect families with appropriate school, community and support services where required.

3. Pasifika Community Partnerships The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Develop and maintain strong partnerships with Pasifika community organisations, leaders, cultural groups, youth services and relevant agencies.
- Engage Pasifika community members and organisations in activities that support students and families.
- Coordinate workshops, forums and community activities in partnership with relevant organisations.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen pathways and support networks for Pasifika students and families.
- Promote positive relationships between the school and the Pasifika community.

4. Cultural Responsiveness and Safety The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Support school staff to strengthen their understanding of Pasifika cultures, identities, community experiences and strengths.
- Facilitate professional learning, workshops and discussions that promote cultural responsiveness and cultural safety.
- Provide culturally informed perspectives to school leaders and staff where appropriate.
- Contribute to initiatives that strengthen inclusion, belonging and participation for Pasifika students and families.

5. Programs,



Activities and Events The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Plan, coordinate and facilitate culturally responsive programs, activities and events.
- Develop activities in consultation with Pasifika students, families and community members.
- Ensure activities align with the objectives of the Place-Based Partnerships initiative.
- Support culturally significant events and activities that strengthen connection and belonging.
- Monitor participation and outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement.

6. Collaboration, Reporting and Evaluation The School Community Liaison Officer will:

- Work collaboratively with school leadership, teachers, wellbeing staff and relevant school personnel.
- Participate in relevant professional learning and communities of practice.
- Maintain appropriate records of activities, student and family engagement and interventions.
- Collect relevant information and data to support program monitoring and evaluation.
- Contribute to required Department of Education reporting processes.
- Provide regular updates to school leadership regarding activities, achievements, emerging needs and priorities.

Responsibilities Outside the Scope of the Role The School Community Liaison Officer is not responsible for:

- Providing routine in-class educational support in place of teaching staff.
- Performing unrelated school administration or operational duties.
- Providing routine office administration.
- Undertaking behaviour management activities that may compromise the trusted relationships established with students and families.
- Providing specialist clinical or acute care where the SCLO does not have the appropriate qualifications, expertise or support.
- Replacing teachers, wellbeing professionals, education support staff or specialist services.
- Undertaking duties that are inconsistent with the objectives of the Place-Based Partnerships initiative.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfil the specific requirements of the position are encouraged to apply. The role has a specific focus on supporting Pasifika heritage students, families and

We encourage applications from people who have strong connections to, experience with, and a genuine commitment to supporting Pasifika young people, families and communities.

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 flexible 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

A relevant qualification or experience in community development, youth work, education, social work,



family support or a related field is desirable. Experience working with Pasifika community organisations, youth services, schools, families or community leaders will be highly regarded.

The successful applicant will be required to participate in relevant professional learning and program activities.

The role may require occasional work outside standard school hours to support community events, workshops and family engagement activities.

The position may require travel to partner schools, community locations and Department of Education activities.

The position is a full-time role of 38 hours per week.

Where the position supports multiple campuses, the allocation and rostering of the SCLO across campuses will be determined by the relevant campus and school leaders following commencement, taking into consideration the needs and priorities of each campus and community.

Any remaining funding from the school's allocated SCLO funding may be utilised to support appropriate programs, activities and initiatives aligned with the objectives of the Place-Based Partnerships initiative.

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment requirements and relevant Department of Education employment conditions.

A current Working with Children Check and any other required checks must be maintained throughout employment.

Conditions of Employment

The successful applicant will be employed on a full-time, fixed-term basis at Education Support Class Level 1 ¿ Range 3 (ES1.3). The standard working hours are 38 hours per week. Working arrangements may be negotiated as appropriate to meet program and community needs, consistent with Department of Education employment conditions.

The successful applicant may be required to work some hours during school holidays to support planned community activities, programs and events.

Where applicable, time-in-lieu arrangements will be managed in accordance with Department of Education employment conditions and school procedures.

How to Apply

Applicants are asked to submit:

- A current resume.
- A cover letter outlining their interest in the role.
- A response addressing the selection criteria.
- Details of relevant experience, qualifications and community involvement.
- Details of referees.

Location Profile

Victoria University Secondary College is a multi campus school, comprising of a Junior Campus located in Deer Park, a Senior Campus with a Trade Training Centre located in Cairnlea and a Flexible Learning Option ¿ iCAN centre located in St Albans. Our college has approximately 1500 students from years 7 to 12 and services the residential area of Cairnlea, Deer Park, St Albans and environs in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Our college provides a broad range of personal, academic and practical experiences for our students who come form diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Victoria University Secondary College challenges students to, Create the Future by adhering to our school values of Aspiring to Achieve, Strengthening the Community and Respecting Themselves and Others. Victoria University Secondary College is a Professional Learning Community (PLC) school. PLC schools approach to learning, is to share ideas, enhance teaching practices and create an environment where all students can reach their full potential.

Victoria University Secondary College empowers members of our learning community to develop control over their own thinking and actions. Our college encourages our members to develop self belief and confidence to persevere with their learning challenges.

Victoria University Secondary

College focusses on reflective thinking and collaboration. This college focus encourages our students to become independent learners, work collaboratively and share ideas and resources while respecting and recognising individual contributions our accelerated students in programs such as AVID (Advance via Individual Determination), Deep Learning and SEAL, Music and we are also a rugby academy school.

Victoria University Secondary College is a supportive teaching and learning environment where student needs and backgrounds are reflected in the learning and design of the school. Our strategic intention is to maximise opportunities for all our students by developing their talents and challenging them to have high aspirations, so they can achieve their potential and become logical, self-aware, collaborative and inquisitive students. Importantly, Victoria University Secondary College seek to develop students skills and competencies so they are well prepared for their future study and future workplace.

The School Community Liaison Officer will be based at Victoria University Secondary College and may work across relevant partner schools, campus locations, community locations and other program delivery sites as required.

The role may require travel to other schools, community locations, professional development activities and Department of Education meetings.

Applications close Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

9 September 2026

📌 School Community Liaison Officer - Pasifika Heritage Students (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Government
📍 Melbourne