Department of Education Victoria – Cobram VIC

Cobram and District Specialist School was established in 1978 and is located in Cobram on the Murray River, approximately 280 kilometres north of Melbourne. The school is a dual-mode specialist setting providing educational programs for students aged five to eighteen years with a diagnosed intellectual disability. The school¿s catchment area extends from Yarrawonga to Katunga and across the New South Wales border to Finley.

The school is committed to delivering positive and engaging learning experiences that support each student to achieve their optimal level of academic, social, emotional, and physical independence. The core values of Respect, Safety, and Try Your Best underpin all aspects of school life. A whole-school approach to behaviour management is embedded through the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Within this framework, school values and expected behaviours are explicitly and systematically taught each week to promote protected, supportive, and productive learning environments.

The school currently enrols seventy-one students on a full-time basis. Eligibility for enrolment requires assessment by a registered psychologist and confirmation of an intellectual disability diagnosis. Each student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), with goals collaboratively developed through Student Support Group (SSG) meetings involving parents, carers, and staff. The curriculum is aligned with the Victorian Curriculum Levels A¿D and F¿10, ensuring differentiated pathways to meet diverse learning needs.

The senior unit offers both the Victorian Pathways Certificate and the ASDAN Independent Living Skills pathway,



supporting students in preparing for post-school transitions. Educational programs are enhanced through allied health services and a range of enrichment opportunities, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, camps, excursions, and community-based learning projects.

Students are organised into ten classrooms structured according to age and learning needs. The school maintains strong partnerships with local schools, service organisations, and health professionals to strengthen student learning and wellbeing outcomes. Inclusion programs with neighbouring mainstream schools are a valued component of the school¿s approach. The school also collaborates with Banmira, Belvoir, Seymour, and Wangaratta Specialist Schools, participating in inter-school sporting events such as swimming, athletics, cross-country, soccer, and basketball throughout the year.

School facilities include ten classrooms, an art room, a combined library and sewing room, a woodwork room, an ALERT regulation space, and a multipurpose facility incorporating a fully equipped kitchen. Students have access to contemporary information and communication technologies, with middle and senior students provided with one-to-one computer access. Outdoor facilities include playground equipment, a basketball court, and a garden area. Due to limited outdoor space,



the school utilises the oval and playground facilities of the adjacent Cobram Primary School.

The leadership team comprises the Principal, Assistant Principal, and two Learning Specialists. Staffing includes seven full-time teachers, nine part-time teachers, twenty-five Education Support staff, a Business Manager, and an Office staff. Teachers work collaboratively with allied health professionals to design and implement high-quality, evidence-informed educational programs. The school employs a full-time Occupational Therapist, who also undertakes the role of Mental Health Practitioner for two days per week. A speech pathologist visits the school on a fortnightly basis to support students¿ communication development.

Governance is provided by the School Council, which oversees the strategic direction of the school and ensures appropriate resourcing to deliver high-quality educational programs. A School Council subcommittee, comprising parent representatives, coordinates fundraising initiatives and supports school events throughout the year.

Selection Criteria

KSC1. Student Wellbeing, Engagement & Relationships

Demonstrated ability to build positive, respectful and professional relationships with young people, assess psychosocial needs, and identify, implement and review strengths-based, evidence-informed wellbeing interventions that promote student wellbeing, engagement, attendance, connectedness and participation in learning withing a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

KSC2. Case Management and Cooperative Practice

Demonstrated experience supporting students with diverse and complex needs through effective case management and collaborative practice, including cont

📌 Social Worker (Cobram)
🏢 Department of Education Victoria
📍 Cobram