Advertised Vacancy Number: SS/SS749956
This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 3, 2022
Avonvale Primary School (PS) are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and passionate Education Assistant – Special Needs to join their friendly team of support staff.
At Avonvale PS, we care. We commit to providing enriched learning opportunities to meet the needs of every student. Our school is small and friendly, and many of our families have been attending the school for several generations. Working closely with families to deliver a safe, secure school experience is central to all we do. Our staff are committed to supporting all our students and their families by ensuring needs are met and communications are respectful. We want our families to know that they will be welcomed, supported and understood.
Due to our focus on care and support, we are looking for an Education Assistant who understands the value of fostering respectful relationships with students, families and colleagues. As an Education Assistant - Special Needs, the successful applicant will provide support and advice in managing students at risk due to special behavioural, social-emotional or learning needs. You will use your knowledge and experience to assist with planning, delivering, monitoring and communicating progress in relation to intervention programs. You should be willing to learn, adapt, and respond in ways that prioritise individual needs.
We are seeking an experienced educator who possesses effective skills in supporting students with autism spectrum disorders, communication disorders, attention disorders, and a range of other diagnosed and imputed disabilities. Training and expertise in the following areas will be highly valued: trauma informed practice, de-escalation strategies, low-risk restraint, and the teaching of self-regulation. Experience in supporting structured literacy interventions such as Macqlit, Minilit, Promoting Literacy Development (PLD) programs and Let’s Decode is highly desirable.
As an Education Assistant - Special Needs, the successful applicant will work under limited supervision and may be asked to participate within a team situation, offering advice and expertise relating to their relevant area. This may include the development, implementation and monitoring of behaviour management plans. Education outcomes are determined by teachers and other professionals, with the employee performing tasks which require discretion in problem solving, decision making, and choosing methods and processes to achieve outcomes. Performance of these tasks may require activities within or outside the school that result in supervision of students without the presence of a teacher.
The successful applicant for this position will ideally be culturally responsive and have experience supporting students whose home dialect is Aboriginal English. Experienced Aboriginal educators with appropriate skills are encouraged to apply.
This selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy. Applicants assessed as suitable during this selection process may be considered for other similar vacancies that occur throughout our school for up to 12 months following this initial appointment. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.
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 Avonvale Primary School can be found by visiting Schools Online.
For further job-related information:
You are encouraged to contact Wendy Moore, Principal, for further information about this employment opportunity, including information about living and working in Northam, by telephoning (08) 9621 5200 or emailing wendy.moore@education.wa.edu.au.
During the school holiday period, please contact Wendy Moore on 0428 838 4252.
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 three (3) page statement 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
Employees will be required to:
- Complete the Department’s Aboriginal Cultural Appreciation course;
- Provide evidence of eligibility to work in Australia for the term of the vacancy;
- Obtain a current Department of Education Criminal Record Clearance prior to commencement of employment; and
- Obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check.
Education Assistants working with Kindergarten students may be required to have, or be actively working towards, a Certificate lll in Education Support (or approved equivalent) in order to meet the educator-to-student ratio outlined in the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care.
Approved equivalent qualifications are published by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.
TRAINING
Employees will be required to:
- Complete the Department’s induction program within three months of commencement;
- Complete any training specific to this role required by Departmental policy; and
- 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 Friday, 05 August 2022.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE
PROFORMA, FAXED, HAND DELIVERED, POSTED, EMAILED AND LATE APPLICATIONS
ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
