This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 2, 2026
Ocean Reef Primary School (PS) is a small, independent public school currently supporting approximately 220 students from Kindergarten to Year 6, with a clear vision to grow and establish itself as the school of choice within the community.
We provide a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment where every child is known, valued and supported to reach their full potential in an ever-changing world. Our approach is grounded in explicit teaching, continuous improvement and a strong commitment to meeting the individual needs of every student through collaborative and inclusive practices.
Nestled in the heart of Ocean Reef, we are proud of our strong community connections, including established links with Ocean Reef Senior High School and partnerships with external agencies to support student outcomes and wellbeing.
As a small school with one Associate Principal, this role offers a unique opportunity to work in close partnership with the Principal. This relationship is critical in driving the school’s improvement agenda, maintaining momentum and ensuring a consistent, strategic direction for the future.
Ocean Reef PS is on a clear improvement journey, focused on embedding consistent, evidence-informed practices and building a high-performance, high-care culture. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on student outcomes while contributing to a collaborative and supportive leadership team.
Find out more about our school by visiting Ocean Reef Primary School or Schools Online
The Role
The Associate Principal plays a pivotal role in driving the vision and improvement agenda of Ocean Reef PS, working in close partnership with the Principal and Executive Team. Central to this role is strong instructional leadership, focused on embedding consistent, evidence-informed practices in Literacy, Maths and Positive Behaviour Support, aligned to our commitment to continuous improvement and explicit teaching.
The Associate Principal actively promotes a high-performance, high-care culture grounded in our STAR values, fostering a safe, inclusive and engaging learning environment where every student is supported to achieve their full potential. Building and sustaining effective relationships with students, staff and parents is highly desirable, underpinning a culture of trust, collaboration and shared responsibility. Through disciplined collaboration and coaching, the role builds staff capacity and collective efficacy, ensuring consistency across classrooms and year levels.
A key component of the role is leading change with clarity and purpose, supporting staff, students and the wider community to understand, engage with and take ownership of the school’s direction. The Associate Principal works collaboratively with families, external agencies and community partners to strengthen engagement and enhance outcomes, ensuring all practices align with the school’s strategic priorities and Public School Review expectations.
The successful applicant should provide leadership across teaching, learning, student support and school operations. Key responsibilities may include:
- Line management of K–6 staff, Education Assistants and the School Chaplain/Wellbeing Officer
- Leading whole-school approaches in Literacy, Maths and PBS, ensuring consistent and predictable routines
- Overseeing assessment and data processes including PAT, NAPLAN Online, On-Entry and Elastik
- Driving data tracking (whole school) and coordinating targeted intervention planning (Years 1–6)
- Leading Students at Educational Risk (SAER), including case conferences, SEN planning, disability resourcing and weekly reporting to the Principal
- Monitoring attendance and supporting whole-school wellbeing and engagement processes
- Coordinating key programs and operations including PEAC, ICT, relief and major school events
- An understanding of cultural awareness and the importance of keeping this core to our pedagogy.
The role works closely with the Principal and Executive Team to strengthen consistent practices, build staff capacity and ensure alignment with PSR expectations, particularly in the learning environment.
We are seeking a leader who ideally displays:
- A strong capacity to lead and influence whole-school improvement
- Expertise in using data to inform teaching and targeted intervention
- The ability to build staff capability through coaching, collaboration and clear expectations
- Highly developed organisational and interpersonal skills
Critical to success in this role are the personal attributes of effective leaders:
openness and capacity for learning, trustworthiness, resilience, interpersonal acumen, self-awareness and a strong drive to excel.
Professional Benefits
Working for the Department of Education you will enjoy a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions. Find out more about the benefits by visiting professional and personal benefits.
Want to know more?
Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Andrew Crosby, Principal on (08) 6206 7900 or Andrew.Crosby@education.wa.edu.au
During the school holidays, please contact Andrew Crosby on 0408 952 859.
Equity and Diversity
We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.
Eligibility
To work with us, you must:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
- hold registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia
- obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
- consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website or in the attached application package.
Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).
Application Instructions
Apply online in two easy steps:
Step 1: Select Apply for Job
Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.
Step 2: Attach your documents
Your application should include:
- A CV of up to four (4) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
- A four (4) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF
- Demonstrated capacity to provide effective leadership in a diverse range of educational settings.
- High level of interpersonal and public relations skills that demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships to achieve planned outcomes.
- Demonstrated professional knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to ensure a high level of educational outcomes for all students, (e.g. Aboriginal students, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with special needs).
- Demonstrated capacity to manage physical and financial resources.
It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.
Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.
For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.
Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/DP1035247
Suitable applicants may be considered for similar vacancies arising within the next 12 months following this selection process. This may include circumstances where the successful applicant declines or vacates the position.
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Friday, 24 April 2026
