Overview

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 5

Occupation: Education and training

Location: Melbourne - Western suburbs

Reference: 1544713

Location Profile

Djirri Djirri School, formally Melton Specialist School has seen a significant increase in enrolment demand, which has seen many changes to our staffing profile over the last 3 years. We have a current enrolment of 396 students. We have a real focus on staff wellbeing and ensuring our staff have the time away from class to focus on their administrative duties. We have flexible working arrangements and provide onsite training for all staff for TEACCH and Behaviour Support. In 2021 we introduced the Wellbeing Dog Program into the school. Bunji, our school dog, works with staff and students and his primary objective is to have fun at school! Bunji does everything from Bus Duty in the morning to School Tours to walking excursions. His introduction to our School Community has had an extremely positive impact.

Djirri Djirri School provides educational programs for students with disabilities at both primary and secondary levels in a positive, caring and safe environment. It is a dual mode setting, catering for students with mild through to severe intellectual disabilities and other associated disabilities like Autism. Students are transported to our school via bus or family transport.

The school is closely located to other schools as well as a variety of community retail spaces, leisure and recreational facilities. Our school environment is comprised of traditional classrooms, specialist and vocational training classrooms, therapy spaces and indoor sensory areas. Our grounds feature natural gardens, purpose built outdoor sensory areas, playground equipment, sports facilities and covered walkways.

Teachers and Educational Support staff make extensive use of a wide variety of resources to ensure all students have an educational journey that is positive and successful. Our school¿s philosophy and programs are based upon the belief that children learn best in a structured workplace that is safe, challenging and supportive with a school-wide focus on Positive Behaviour Support. Across the school we implement Structured TEACCHing and provide onsite training for staff to implement this approach to teaching and learning.

We provide programs in Arts, Literacy, Physical Education, Numeracy, Information Technology, Science and Life Skills. Senior students also have the option of accessing a VCAL or ASDAN program which aim to develop work related skills, travel education and personal development skills.

Student Support

Group meetings involving staff, parents, carers and our Allied Health team are held four times a year to formulate individual learning goals based on each student¿s ability, strengths and needs and celebrate achievements towards these goals The first two stages of a four-stage rebuilding project have been completed and we have some amazing new teaching spaces including our very own Mini Woolies. Through our Improvement plans, the school aims to develop a change in the culture of the school where roles are clarified, structures and processes are developed and embedded, and an expectation on consistent practice and developing expertise is expected in all staff.

Our vision

Staff at Djirri Djirri School believe in creating a nurturing environment where students are empowered to achieve their full potential, be that in the academic curriculum, in their social interactions or in the area of independent living skills. Increasing student independence and creating an engaging learning environment is foremost when staff plan and implement individual programs.

Our values

Djirri Djirri School values the safety, health and wellbeing of its students, staff and community. The cornerstone of education for the students who attend our school relies on the partnerships that are formed between families, the school and agencies outside of the school. At this school, we respect student diversity and we acknowledge that all students can learn in their respective manner.

Staff have a responsibility to ensure that student learning is engaging and relevant to the individual. Students in the school demonstrate their responsibility by trying their best in their academic, social and personal interactions.





We are a School Wide Positive Behaviour Support School.

School-wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) is an evidence-based framework for preventing and responding to student behaviour. It aims to create a positive school climate, a culture of student competence and an open, responsive management system for all school community members. It includes analysis of data in professional learning teams, implementation of evidence based practices and organisational systems for establishing safe, purposeful and inclusive school and classroom learning environments while providing the individual behaviour and learning supports needed to achieve academic and social success for all students.

Our school purpose is supported by the following school values that are central to the life of the school.

Be Responsible - Be Respectful - Be Safe

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated ability to identify relevant referral agencies, develop pathways and link services to support educational success of our culturally diverse young people. SC2 Demonstrated capacity to lead and work collaboratively with our student engagement team to improve student outcomes.

SC3 Demonstrated ability to lead and manage the implementation of school priorities, specifically in the areas of student voice and agency.

SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills. Demonstrated ability to lead collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community focused on student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values and support colleagues to adopt these behaviours and attitudes. Demonstrated ability to reflect upon their own, others and whole-school practice and contribute to the provision of whole-school professional learning specially our DDS Cultural Action Plan.

Role

Student Engagement Team Leader will lead our Student Engagement Team. They will also work on improving relationships between our culturally diverse families, school and the local community. Will usually be a member of the leadership team who is accountable for the development and delivery of key services that are integral to the effective operation of a school/s. Provides a range of services and/or undertakes the analysis of complex problems that form part of the policy framework.

A school or group of schools would need to have the necessary diversity and complexity to create a role at range 5. Management of a major school or district initiative, project or Department targeted strategy would be an indicator depending on the breadth of management responsibilities.

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

- Lead a team to devise, plan, coordinate, deliver and evaluate student-focused events, programs and activities that promote student engagement, participation, belonging and retention
- Utilising the SWPBS framework by working on early intervention & prevention activities (Tier 1, 2 and 3) for students and families
- Provide support services for students on an individual basis, including liaison with parents regarding wellbeing, and academic progress concerns and managing referrals.
- Lead a team to facilitate and support, mental health and all general youth counselling including referral to external agencies as required.
- Coordinate a team to support transition and orientation activities, including, SSG Days, family orientation sessions and other initiatives that encourage new students to integrate successfully into DDS.




- Lead staff and student placements as required, including rostering, allocation of duties, and appropriate guidance and support regarding school programs
- Ensure the team uses effective referral and communication processes including maintaining accurate case notes and records of all counselling and interview sessions.
- Manage multiple events and activities, coordinating plans for whole school celebrations, timelines, documentation and operational requirements.
- Lead a team to proactively seek and analyse student feedback and student voice to inform future programs and implement improvements in response to emerging student needs
- When required, participate in complex case meetings, SSGs, and other multidisciplinary forums as directed
- Coordinate event communications and documentation and contribute content for social media and other student communication channels
- Monitor expenditure against allocated budgets
- Maintaining appropriate records and documentation using Compass, utilise available data to ensure delivery of student support when required.
- Act in accordance with guidelines, processes and policies whilst maintaining confidentiality and privacy at all times.
- Respond to crisis situations as they arise, implementing timely and appropriate support for students, families and staff.
- Be an active member of the Leadership Team and contribute to our Cultural Action Plan.

Who May Apply

University qualification - Batchelor or Social Work preferred

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

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

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.

Apply now

Applications close Thursday 8 October 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

18 September 2026

📌 Student Engagement Team Leader (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Government
📍 Melbourne