We are seeking a passionate, proactive and highly motivated Head of Department - Student Engagement to provide strategic leadership and drive initiatives that promote positive student behaviour, wellbeing, attendance and engagement in learning. As Head of Department - Student Engagement, you will demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive and high-expectations school culture where every student feels valued, connected and empowered to achieve their potential. This is a temporary full-time position commencing 21 January 2027 until 10 December 2027, unless otherwise determined.

About Us

Whitfield State School is a highly regarded school in the Cairns area. The school is set on a large site with ovals, beautiful gardens and a tropical rainforest plot. Close to both tropical rainforest tablelands and the Great Barrier Reef, our families and students reside close to some of Australia's most beautiful natural environments.
Our school combines strong academic achievement with exceptional teaching, extraordinary opportunities and a deliberate focus on raising capable children. Students benefit from specialist programs, PEAK Academies, sport, performing arts, technology, outdoor learning and opportunities designed to develop resilient, skilled problem solvers. We are immensely proud of our school's reputation for providing an excellent education in a safe, caring environment.

About the Role

The Head of Department - Student Engagement will have a focus on planning, teaching and school culture activities that support increases in student performance in belonging, engagement and agency.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

- Lead consistent, proactive approaches to behaviour and engagement across Whitfield State School including in outdoor play and learning areas.
- Build staff skills in classroom management, and explicitly teaching students the skills for belonging, engagement and agency;




- Lead individual planning that strengthens children's social and emotional learning, behaviour and engagement.
- Work alongside teachers, students and families to identify needs, set transparent goals and develop practical strategies.
- Build staff capability to implement, monitor and adjust plans that help children develop self-regulation, positive relationships and greater independence.

Portfolio area responsibilities require the applicant to communicate with influence inside and outside the gate and to collaboratively develop sustained, systematic improvement actions, leveraging innovative use of resources to achieve quality outcomes for all students. Role to be further refined with successful candidate.

The following KSAs will be used to assess the candidates:

Leadership that demonstrates coherent replicable processes or systematic improvement steps that sustains productive and active relationships by:

- Shared values and vision of the school underpin improvement agendas - School culture enhancement from current to preferred underpins all work.
- Clear articulation of the planned work through visual models is evident
- System thinking principles are driving the approach to change - e.g. Complicated/ complex tools - task assignments, signposts, artefacts of change, design thinking.
- Persuasion, influencing and negotiation approaches are preferenced over directive leadership styles in change management

Please refer to the attached role description for any mandatory requirements for this position.

How to apply

- Please submit a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history); and
- A 1-page written statement about how your achievements and capabilities meet the requirements of the role.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

📌 Head of Department - Student Engagement - Whitfield State School (Cairns)
🏢 Queensland Department of Education
📍 Cairns