School Officer (ASL)

Position: School Officer (ASL) - Indigenous Education Worker
Commencing Date: As soon as practicable
Tenure:  Term Time, Fixed Term
Salary Range: $30.68 - $31.35 per hour pending experience
Closing Date:  Monday, 22 April 2024 unless filled prior

St Michael's Catholic School, Palm Island is a co-educational Catholic primary school on Palm Island, offering Prep to Year 6. Established in 1938, the school enjoys magnificent ocean views and natural surroundings including a creek, green hills and beachfront. The Sisters of Our Lady Help of Christians opened the school and later the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sisters took charge, remaining on the island until 2011. Their mission 'Truth by Love,' remains the school’s motto. St Michael's Catholic School exists to serve the community's Indigenous people, with the majority of students being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

As part of our teaching team, we will provide a supportive, flexible working environment where care for all of our staff is an important part of our ethos.  We employ motivated people who want to work together to produce excellent outcomes for our students. Our staff are recognised as being central to achieving our mission. 

About the role

St Michael's Catholic School, Palm Island is seeking an experienced and dedicated School Officer (Assisting Student Learning) - Indigenous Education Worker completing 27.50 hours per week. This is a term time, fixed term position commencing on 19 March for the duration of the 2024 school year. 

The primary purpose of the ASL - Indigenous Education Worker is to work in collaboration with teachers to provide appropriate advice, practical support and guidance to assist Indigenous students with learning and development. The ASL - Indigenous Education Worker, provides assistance to Indigenous students to optimise student learning outcomes in a supported environment with a range of cultural and educational programs. 

The ASL - Indigenous Education Worker will demonstrate competency involving the application of knowledge and skills to a range of tasks to support teachers deliver contemporary learning and teaching. The ASL - Indigenous Education Worker ensures that all duties are completed to an acceptable standard as determined by the Principal.

The Key Accountabilities are as follows but not limited to, and may vary based on classroom and students' support needs:

• Work in classrooms, with teachers, providing support for Indigenous students
• Liaise with teachers to determine the progress and wellbeing of Indigenous students
• Assist Indigenous students in the transition from community to school and be a positive role model
• Provide guidance, pastoral care and advocacy for Indigenous students and their families
• Provide awareness to school staff on Indigenous student backgrounds and Indigenous Community Perspectives
• Develop and maintain relationships with local Indigenous community Groups and Traditional Land Owners representatives
• Assist in coordination and promotion of Indigenous cultural education events, activities and programs within the School Community

Learning and Teaching

• Provide support to teachers in the classroom
• Assist the teaching team with classroom resources
• Work in partnership with teachers to support student learning which may include:
  • General support to a group of students while the teacher is engaged in focussed teaching
  • Provision of personalised support e.g. mobility or communication support, where required
  • Assisting students to complete tasks designed by the teacher
  • Preparation of support materials and resources
• Support identified students with learning barriers, to engage in a range of learning activities
• Collect data for analysis by the teacher - anecdotal notes on performance of task, work habits, behaviour etc., provided to the teacher

Inclusive Education

• Assist individuals or small groups with activities as part of inclusive teaching and learning practices, supporting the teacher with behaviour management and the development of social skills and classroom skills development
• Assist students with their personal organisation when required

Small Group and Personalised Support

• Communicate with teachers about student progress and areas of need
• Inform the School Principal on any welfare issues that may arise with students
• Develop professional relationships with students based on trust and respect, which utilises a strengths-based approach
• Provide general formative feedback to student on performance during the teaching session
• Role model behaviour in line with the School's mission
• Work in partnership with teachers to implement aspects of learning plans, as identified by the teacher, for groups of students including:
  • Work with the student, under the direction of a teacher, to support the implementation of particular learning goals as identified in the Student’s Learning Plan

Pastoral Care

• Proactively monitor and support student wellbeing issues under the guidance of the pastoral care team
• Work to promote self-esteem and assist with student social interactions by teaching them social skills and discussing with them their social behaviours as required
• Provide assistance with personal care as required which may also include mobility and personal hygiene
• Provide assistance with communication – including note taking, taping material and using ICT to optimise the student’s learning experiences

Professional Development

• Support collegiate learning by sharing learnings with colleagues
• Proactively seek opportunities to extend own professional learning via internal and external training

To join this vibrant school community, you'll need

• The ability to organise and prioritise a range of tasks and set priorities to meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Demonstrated competence and confidence in using a personal computer and relevant software packages e.g. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Demonstrated experience working with students with disabilities and/or special needs is desirable.

Mandatory Criteria

• Current Working with Children Suitability Card - The successful candidate will require a paid Blue Card before commencement as per the No Card, No Start policy developed by Queensland Government.
• Current Driver’s Licence
• Ability to travel from time to time within the Catholic Diocese of Townsville
• Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role in a safe manner.

This position may be subject to a pre-employment medical assessment to support the selection process. For some positions it may be necessary for the successful applicant to be immunised against certain preventable diseases in order to minimise the risk of transmission.

Desirable Criteria

• Cert III in Education Support or a commitment towards completing this qualification
• First Aid qualification or a willingness to complete.

For more information, please refer to the Position Description

What we offer

• Competitive Hourly Rate
• Annual Leave with 17.5% leave loading
• Access to salary packaging options to maximise employee benefits and salary 
• Modern facilities, equipment and resources
• Access to long service leave after 7 years of continuous service
• 14 Weeks’ paid parental leave
• Deferred Salary Scheme
• Access to corporate health schemes
• Induction processes and professional learning programs
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Well-being programs and initiatives

Our Organisation

Townsville Catholic Education supports a diverse region extending from Townsville to the Burdekin and Whitsunday regions in the south, and north to Ingham and Halifax, south-west to Winton, and west to the border with the Northern Territory, encompassing Mount Isa and several small, isolated western towns and east to Palm Island. Townsville Catholic Education provides a supportive, flexible working environment where care for the individual is an important part of our ethos.  We employ motivated people who want to work together to produce excellent outcomes for our students. Our staff are recognised as being central to achieving our mission. 

How to apply

• Complete the application form including contact details (phone and email) of at least two professional referees
• Upload a cover letter addressing the skills, attributes and experience to support the key accountabilities of the role identified in the position description
• Upload a current resume

Applications during the shortlisting phase will be kept confidential. 

Applications close 3.00pm Monday, 22 April 2024 unless filled prior.

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