School Officer

Position: School Officer - Assisting Student Learning - Indigenous Education Worker
Commencing Date: Term 1, 2023
Tenure: Term Time, Fixed Term Contract
Hours: To be negotiated with the successful candidate 
Salary Range: $29.38 - $30.05 per hour pending experience
Closing Date: Monday, 19 December 2022 unless filled prior

St Catherine's Catholic College, The Whitsundays is a Prep to Year 12 co-educational college, established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1925. The college has vibrant, modern and innovative facilities that create inspired learning spaces for students both within the classroom and outside, allowing teachers to use the right strategies at the right time for their class.

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. 

About the role

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, under the guidance of the Emerging Leaders Project Coordinator, 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 actively promote student engagement in the Emerging Leaders Program.

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.

Key Accountabilities

The Key Accountabilities are as follows but not limited to, and may vary based on classroom and student’s 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
• Support Indigenous Students engaged in the Emerging Leaders Program
• 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

About you

Experience

• Demonstrated capacity 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 ability to work independently and as part of a team 
• Demonstrated understanding of and sensitivity to the learning needs of Indigenous students 

Skills

• Understanding of, and ability to develop, links between the school and Indigenous communities
• Professional presentation skills with the ability to proactively engage and enthuse both students, parents and other colleagues
• Well-developed computer literacy capacity to work in partnership with classroom teachers 
• Organisational planning and coordination skills including the ability to demonstrate flexibility and manage demanding or competing tasks

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 students

What we offer

• Competitive Salary Range: $29.38 - $30.05  per hour pending experience
• 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 additional Employer Superannuation Contributions
• 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
• Leadership development opportunities
• Wellbeing programs and initiatives

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 

Please refer to the Position Description for more information.

Applications during the shortlisting phase will be kept confidential. 

Applications close 3pm Monday, 19 December 2022 unless filled prior.

View other vacancies here.