Advertised Vacancy Number IPS/SS797417
Appointment Pool
Balcatta Senior High School (SHS) is seeking to establish a pool of enthusiastic and dedicated Education Assistants- Special Needs for appointments to permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise during the 2023 school year. Appointments can be made from the pool at any time for commencements within the 2023 school year.
Balcatta SHS is situated in the northern suburbs of Perth. As an Independent Public School, we make decisions at the local level to ensure our students have opportunities for success and to better meet the needs of our school community. We have a long and rich history of providing students with an inclusive and enriching educational experience, embracing diversity, and valuing difference. Our teachers and support staff know their students and are committed to creating positive, engaging learning experiences where students can achieve their full potential.
Our students come from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds - a feature that serves to enrich our learning environment. Working with our community, we achieve our school vision of a warm, welcoming, and connected school community. The positive and inclusive environment we create ensures that all members of our school community feel welcomed, safe, respected, and valued.
As Special Needs Education Assistant, you will form part of our dedicated team of staff working with students with a range of special needs and other mental health and developmental disabilities and/or disorders. The suitable applicants are expected to work in an environment committed to whole school approaches, self-reflection, and continuous self-improvement.
Suitable applicants will, under general guidance; identify, develop, and deliver specific intervention programs for students with special needs, and should display the ability to support the specific learning needs of individual adolescents effectively and appropriately with varying degrees of disability. Experience in working with children with Autism, Intellectual Disability, Physical Disability, and challenging behavioural issues is desirable. applicants to be willing to expand their knowledge and skills in these areas are highly regarded. The ability to work independently and at times without supervision, and the ability to think on your feet and use your initiative to manage challenging behaviours, will be highly regarded. To ensure high quality outcomes for students, you will build positive, professional working relationships with students, staff, parents/carers, and stakeholders.
In the role of Special Needs Education Assistant, you will be highly engaged in the development of student independence through planned and explicit approaches to support their self-management and self-regulation skills. This includes involvement in the development, monitoring and review of student programs and plans.
The suitable applicants should have strong interpersonal skills, high levels of personal organisation (including effective record keeping) and the capacity to ensure compliance with the school’s and Department of Education policies and procedures, under the guidance of the Program Coordinator- Education Support and Associate Principal- Education Support.
Special Needs Education Assistants support the Department’s main objective of teaching and learning of students through assisting the teacher in delivering planned education programs and encouraging a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Discretion is exercised in monitoring and subsequently withdrawing assistance to allow the students to independently integrate into the learning environment. Employees at this level work under general supervision and guidance performing tasks that require discretion and judgement in achieving clearly defined outcomes, determined by the teacher. The suitable applicants should apply techniques, skills and knowledge of relevant principles and practices acquired through previous experience, on the job learning, or relevant qualification. You should be able to work as part of a team to improve outcomes for students.
We are seeking applicants that will ideally be highly motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, flexible, and reliable. You will ensure the learning environment is inclusive and relevant, appropriately resourced and maintained, with the health and safety of the students a high priority.
To be suitable for this role, you will need to demonstrate the following work-related requirements (selection criteria):
- Good written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interact with students with special needs, parents and teaching professionals on the provision of educational programs, and to assist teachers in understanding students where necessary.
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as part of a team in the evaluation of educational programs, including special education and therapy programs where these have been implemented.
- Good organisational skills that will assist in the delivery and development of effective education programs to students and subsequent feedback to teaching professionals or psychologists.
- Ability to assist teachers or therapists in implementing educational programs, including special education and, should this be a requirement of the position, occupational and/or physiotherapy programs.
- Knowledge of health and physical disabilities in students and adolescents.
- Ability to assist with general health and well-being of students.
Applications will be assessed against these work-related requirements (selection criteria) of the position. The business needs of the school may also be considered. It is therefore recommended that you consider all information contained in the advertisement and any other related information before applying for the vacancy.
The Department is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and persons from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.
Further information about Balcatta Senior High School can be found by visiting balcattashs.wa.edu.au or Schools Online
Additional information about Independent Public Schools is also available here
For further job related information:
Please contact Allison Nolan, Program Coordinator – Education Support Program, by telephoning (08) 9345 8200 or emailing Allison.Nolan@education.wa.edu.au
During the school holiday period please contact Allison Nolan, Program Coordinator - Education Support Program by telephoning 0432 987 506.
Application Instructions
All applications are submitted online. Select “Apply for Job”, at either the top or bottom of this screen and follow the instructions on your screen.
Your application should include:
- A statement of up to three (3) pages addressing the Work Related Requirements (selection criteria), in context of the role and business needs of the school
- A CV of up to two (2) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
- The contact details for two (2) work related referees who can attest to the claims made in your written application, preferably one being your current line manager.
It is recommended you have these documents completed and ready to attach before selecting “Apply for Job”.
You are asked to complete an online application form and attach your documentation, please allow enough time to complete this process as applications cannot be accepted after the closing date and time.
After you have submitted your application online, you will receive an email confirming lodgement. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please telephone (08) 9264 4127.
If you are having difficulty submitting your online application, please telephone (08) 9264 8666 for assistance.
ELIGIBILITY AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Employees will be required to:
- Obtain a current Department of Education Criminal Record Clearance prior to commencement of employment.
- Obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check.
- Complete the Department’s Aboriginal Cultural Appreciation course.
- Provide evidence of eligibility to work in Australia for the term of the vacancy.
- Complete the Department’s induction program within three months of commencement.
- Complete any training specific to this role required by Departmental policy.
- Complete the Department’s training in Accountable and Ethical Decision-Making within six months of appointment.
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications must be submitted before 4.30pm (WST) on Wednesday, 19 April 2023.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE
PROFORMA, FAXED, HAND DELIVERED, POSTED, EMAILED AND LATE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
