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, qualified 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 you

📌 Koorie Engagement Support Officer (Warrnambool)
🏢 Government schools
📍 Warrnambool