School Officer

Position: School Officer - Assisting Student Learning (Secondary)
Commencing Date:  Term 1, 2021
Salary Range: $27.46 - $28.14 per hour pending experience
Classification: Part Time, Term Time, 1 Year Contract
Hours: 25 hours per week, 5 days per week
Closing Date: Thursday, 21st January 2021 

Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale is a co-educational college that offers classes from Prep to Year 12. The College values effort, commitment and support and challenges students to become their best selves. In doing so, a college environment is provided in which students can grow holistically and promote activities, processes and structures that enhance a love of life.

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 is recognised as being central to achieving our mission. 

About the role

The primary purpose of the School Officer - Assisting Student Learning is to contribute to the provision of a quality educational service by providing efficient and high quality support to teachers with the preparation and/or enhancement of learning materials for the efficient running of teaching at Southern Cross Catholic College. The School Officer - Assisting Student Learning is assigned to work in collaboration with teachers to provide support and guidance to assist students with learning and development. The School Officer - Assisting Student Learning ensures that all duties are completed to an acceptable standard as determined by the Classroom Teacher, Teacher of Students with Disabilities, and Principal. 

Key Accountabilities

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

• 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 focused 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.
• 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.
• Communicate with teachers about student progress and areas of need
• Inform the 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 College’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.
• 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 notetaking, taping material and using ICT to optimise the student’s learning experiences.
• Support collegiate learning by sharing learnings with colleagues
• Proactively seek opportunities to extend own professional learning via internal and external training.

About You

Experience

• Ability to organise and prioritise a range of tasks and set priorities to meet deadlines in a busy environment
• Ability to provide information and support to stakeholders regarding Indigenous communities
• Demonstrated understanding of and sensitivity to the learning needs of Indigenous students.

Skills

• Understanding and ability to develop links between the school and Indigenous communities
• Good oral communication skills, especially in relation to staff, students and community
• Good written, verbal, visual and non-verbal communication skills to ensure positive engagement with staff, parents and visitors
• Sound computer literacy capacity to work in partnership with classroom teachers.

Attributes

• Enthusiastic, energetic, flexible with a proactive attitude
• Confident, well-presented and engaging with a personal warmth that engenders mutual respect with staff, parents and visitors
• Flexible and responsive to the needs of the school community and driven to achieve the best outcomes for Indigenous students.

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.

Desirable Criteria

• Cert III in Education Support or a commitment towards completing this qualification.

What we offer

• Competitive Salary starting: $27.46 - $28.14 per hour pending experience
• Annual Leave with 17.5% leave loading (pro rata)
• Salary packaging options 
• Modern facilities, equipment and resources
• Superannuation up to 12.75% employer contribution (in a  co-contribution arrangement)
• Access to long service leave after 7 years of continuous service
• 14 Weeks’ paid parental leave
• Deferred Salary Scheme
• Corporate health insurance 
• Induction, professional development and learning opportunities
• Well-being programs and initiatives

How to apply

• Complete the application form
• 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 including contact details (phone and email of two professional referees

Please see the Position Description for more information. 

Applications during the shortlisting phase will be kept confidential. 

Applications close 5pm Thursday, 21st January 2021.