Location Profile
Are you interested in working in the Department of Education as a Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO)? Do you have a passion for education and First Nations student success? An exciting opportunity exists for a highly self-motivated Koorie Engagement Support Officer in the Western Melbourne Area, South-West Victorian Region (SWVR). This position is based in Footscray, however, may involve travel throughout the West Melbourne Area.
The KESO role supports the Department of Education (DE) priorities in Early Years, schools and the strategic priorities set by the Council of Australia Governments (COAG), the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework (VAAF) and Closing the Gap initiatives. Schools and Regional Services comprises 17 Areas within four regions across the state, as well as five central Divisions. The responsibilities of Regional Services include:
Service delivery including performance, contract management, funding delivery and acquittal
Program implementation including detailed implementation planning and delivery
Local area engagement, advice, support and partnerships
Workforce capability development, professional practice leadership and delivery
Emergency management including critical incident response
The regional model supports our regions to:
connect between central government policy and the delivery of high-quality services to Victorians
drive outcomes across all stages of learning through expert advice and support
connect with families, service providers, schools and communities
lead, collaborate and partner at a local level to overcome social and economic challenges facing our communities, towns and cities
deliver health, wellbeing and support services to children, young people and their families to assist them in their learning and development
improve connectedness and transitions between important points in a child's life, such as between early childhood, kindergarten, school and tertiary education
assist and support children and young people who are vulnerable, disengaged, and those with disabilities or challenging behaviour
Role
The purpose of the KESO position is to:
Work with education and family service providers, key stakeholders and the Koorie Community to improve:
Early years participation
Student engagement and wellbeing
Retention and achievement
Access to higher education and further training pathways as well as interfacing with TAFE Koorie Liaison Officers and VAEAI Wurreker Brokers
Work systemically with departments and agencies to improve outcomes for Koorie children and young people
Work with education providers to provide advice on the establishment of cultural inclusive learning environments
Provide advice to assist the coordination of services to support re‐engagement of at‐risk Koorie children and young people
Responsibilities
Stakeholder Engagement
Build constructive,



professional relationships with a range of key stakeholders to work in partnership to improve engagement, wellbeing and achievement for Koorie children and young people
Facilitate improved access to universal and targeted educational services for Koorie families and communities
Negotiate with and influence key stakeholders to improve access to more culturally responsive educational services to ensure that services provide culturally appropriate programs
Establish and maintain partnerships with government departments, community agencies and local communities to promote the development of collaborative programs and initiatives related to improving achievements for Koorie children and young people
Facilitate local Koorie input into the delivery of culturally appropriate educational services
Support information sharing as per the Child Information and Sharing Scheme and follow‐up between educational services and families about educational issues and local and regional priorities
Expert Advice and Support
Provide expert Koorie specific advice to a range of education services about culturally inclusive and appropriate strategies, and contribute to the regional responses to increase engagement, achievement and wellbeing of Koorie children and young people
Access and analyse relevant quantitative and qualitative data, to provide strategic advice on the successful implementation of DE's Koorie education strategic priorities, including relevant regional and local place‐based initiatives
Program and Strategy Delivery
Coordinate and implement initiatives for Koorie children and young people:
Provide high level strategic advice to stakeholders in the facilitation of programs/services that deliver improved achievement for Koorie children and young people
Facilitate the implementation of local and regional strategies aimed at improving the capacity of educational services to deliver culturally inclusive and appropriate programs
Contribute to the provision and implementation of programs and initiatives aimed at improving Koorie engagement, achievement and wellbeing in a range of educational services
Support the implementation and monitoring of targeted programs and strategies aimed at increasing engagement, wellbeing and achievement of Koorie children and young people
Who May Apply
These roles are identified positions and are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only. Confirmation of the Indigenous status of applicants may be requested.



The Department of Education is committed to taking positive action to eliminate discrimination to the greatest possible extent. It recognises that discrimination can cause social and economic disadvantage, and the achievement of substantive equality may require the taking of special measures. To this end, the Department of Education and Training considers these positions to be a special measure for the purposes of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act **** (Vic).
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 secure, 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 ******.
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:
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:
Other Information
Victorian Public Sector Values DE employees commit to the public sector values as outlined in Section 7 of the Public Administration Act ****, DE has adopted these values For more information on the DE's values, visit:
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:
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📌 Koorie Engagement Support Officer (Keso) - Western Melbourne Area, Swvr - 20012578 (Warrnambool)
🏢 Government schools
📍 Warrnambool