Location Profile

Taylors Lakes Secondary College commenced classes in 1992. The 2027 enrolment is expected to be at approximately 1300 students across years 7-12. The College is single campus and is situated on approximately 8 hectares, adjacent to Taylors Lakes Primary School and the Taylors Lakes Recreation Club.

The school is located approximately 22 km north-west of Melbourne G.P.O. The College is part of a multi-cultural community. There is a small percentage of students born overseas, however many parents of students were born in countries where English is not the main language.

During 2025, we completed our School Review.

Our Strategic

Plan for the period 2026 -2029 has been developed, and the major strategic directions continue to focus on student achievement, student engagement and connectedness and student health and wellbeing. Curriculum and assessment development, together with effective instruction and feedback is a crucial element to further drive improvement and the College has begun implementing a whole school model to support these strategies including a major focus on differentiation and student voice and agency and a culture embedded with academic rigour and growth, effort and high expectations. Our TLSC Learner Model highlights our commitment to developing life-long learners, incorporating the e5 Model, wellbeing and also the essential skills of character, communication, citizenship, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. We value learning and growth for all students and staff.

In 2024 we commenced a greater focus on three pillars of Reading and English, Numeracy and Maths and VCE Improvement. With a focus on precision the leadership team is supporting all staff to improve their classroom instruction in these three areas. This has led to significant growth in student outcomes in all three areas.

The College has a number of curriculum-based programs to support students and enhance engagement in their learning. The College¿s Learning Enhancement and Advancement Program (LEAP) is now operating in its tenth year. There is a strong instrumental music and dance program that utilises the Performing Arts facility as well a strong Football Academy incorporating both AFL and Soccer.

We continue to place continued emphasis on student connectedness to school, particularly looking at attendance, development of student management procedures and the provision of a broad range of student wellbeing and pathways options for students. Digital (BYOD) learning is embedded across the college using netbook computers, accompanied by an expectation of teachers that they will use ICT to enhance teaching and student learning. Our leadership profile is designed to support the accountability framework associated with the Strategic Plan.

Accountabilities of Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists within their roles align closely to key improvement foci within the Strategic Plan and Annual Improvement Plans.

The College is committed to a common documented curriculum, based on teachers planning and evaluating together. There is a history of curriculum innovation and a strong culture of promoting and expecting professional learning to enhance student-learning outcomes. Professional Learning Teams support the building of staff capacity. Teacher coaches work alongside other teachers.

Our assessment and reporting policy is consistent across all learning areas. A continuous reporting model is utilised whereby parents receive progress reports every 6 weeks across the semester as well as an end of semester report. In addition to assessing students against the Victorian Curriculum standards, graded assessment tasks are set in all subjects.

A Learning Support Program has targeted students experiencing literacy and numeracy deficits. This operates at both an individual and group level, depending on the work to be done. There is a strongly supported Inclusive Program for students with disabilities and access to psychologists, social workers from the department and allied health staff from other agencies.

The co-curricular program is strong across the College with many camps (subject and level based) operating at different levels. Interschool sport is both diverse and comprehensive. An extensive student leadership program operates at all levels along with a school production and a large lunchtime activities program.

Applied learning programs have commenced and will be a continued focus over the next few years. Afterschool homework clubs (VCE and Junior) attract high participation. The College has exchange programs with sister schools in Japan and Italy which sees wide school community involvement.

Teachers are central to the provision of a high-quality education. Good quality teaching programs are supported by the provision of quality education support staff. The school recognises it has a responsibility to induct, support, motivate and resource staff at a high level.

It maintains a very strong commitment to the professional development of all staff, as evidenced by the financial commitment within the budget as well as support and encouragement given to staff to undertake professional learning. Staff who teach at Taylors Lakes Secondary College are required to participate in the performance development process as set by the department. This involves a commitment to further develop teaching strategies with a view to continued improvement in student learning outcomes.

All staff are expected to be computer literate and to enhance learning technology in their teaching or other duties. Teachers are expected to support the BYOD learning program in their teaching, use their notebook within their classrooms both onsite and online and commitment to ongoing professional learning. All staff will be expected to use the school nominated fully integrated electronic communication and management package (Compass).





The College has been in a position over the last 10 years to complete a range of building projects, including upgrades to the administration area, staff facilities, and computer service centre.

Our Performing

Arts area has been expanded with additional instrumental music teaching and facilities as well as a major upgrade to our food technology and library areas. Our school grounds continue to be developed with landscaping, student seating and shade areas as well as an upgrade to all student toilets and change rooms. In 2023, the college had an upgrade to its sporting facilities, including the gymnasium, hardcourts, futsal courts, oval and surrounding areas.

Selection Criteria

1. Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.
2. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
3. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
4. Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
5. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

Role The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

- Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
- Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and
- Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

Education support class level 1 range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources

Responsibilities

1. Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
2. Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
3. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
4. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
5. Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
6. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7.



Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Who May Apply

Required

- Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
- For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
- For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
- For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
- For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member (Level 2, 3 or 4) of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)

- Demonstrated direct counselling experience
- Evidence of registration with AHPRA, AASW (where applicable), or with ACA or PACFA (where applicable), and a copy of a testamur, certificate or transcript as evidence of appropriate qualification.
- A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable
- For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
- For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
- For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
- For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
- For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).

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 *@education.vic.gov.au

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 protected 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

- 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 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal

Please ensure that your application includes:
- A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
- A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
- Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

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 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal

📌 Mental Health Practitioner (Taylors Lakes)
🏢 Department of Education Victoria
📍 Taylors Lakes