Please note as of Friday, 15 December 2023 at 4:20pm the closing date of this advert has been amended.
Advertised Vacancy Number: 866878
This is a permanent full time position commencing in Term 1, 2024
Are you looking for an internship opportunity and/or the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life?
About the region
The Department of Education’s Wheatbelt Education Region is a short drive from Perth with a diverse landscape, best known for its agriculture and close-knit rural communities. Known as the ‘heartland’ of Western Australia, the Wheatbelt region sets itself apart with its down-to-earth lifestyle and a strong sense of community and belonging. The region has an abundance of natural resources with endless farmland, fields of wildflowers, charming pioneering towns, and large stretches of nature reserves where flora and fauna unique to the area flourish.
Located a short drive inland and south of Perth, the Wheatbelt education region is well-positioned with approximately 59,000 people across 200 towns and communities. The Wheatbelt is home to 69 public schools and 8,715 students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds with families likely to be involved in agriculture, forestry or mining.
The Noongar and Gubrun people are the traditional custodians and original inhabitants of the lands in the region. Wheatbelt schools play a vital role in embedding Aboriginal culture, language and knowledge and work closely with Aboriginal students, their families, and communities to create culturally responsive learning environments.
About the role
As a school psychologist with the Wheatbelt Education Region you will be joining a dynamic team of around 19 psychologists, from early career through to many years of experience. The team is located across the region, with school psychologists currently based in Northam, Narrogin, Katanning and Merredin. With plenty of support from the regional team, we’re looking for psychologists who are keen to make a real difference in the lives of young people. Based in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin, less than 200km south east of Perth, you’ll have the chance to become part of your local community and enjoy a diverse psychologist role, with primary schools, district high schools, senior high schools, residential colleges and WA colleges of agriculture.
Whether you’re a graduate psychologist looking to kick-start your internship or a psychologist with many years of experience looking for a change of pace, this could be the perfect position for you.
This position will be hosted by Narrogin Primary School but you may be working in schools in and around Narrogin and the southern end of the Wheatbelt Education Region. You can find out more about living and working in the Wheatbelt Education Region by exploring the Department of Education’s website. You’re also encouraged to view our video message from Lead School Psychologist, Melanie Smith, who has made the Wheatbelt her home and provides professional line management and support to school psychologists in the region.
Please note, there may be more than one position available for commencement in 2024.
Professional and personal benefits
The successful applicant will enjoy a range of attractive professional and personal benefits.
Salary range of $83,312 - $92,272 (provisional registration), $96,747 - $134,404 (general registration)
- Psychology Board of Australia approved supervision (if required)
- Access to our highly regarded Induction Program of professional learning
- 8 weeks’ vacation leave (aligned with school holidays)
- 11 percent employer contributions to superannuation
- more than 20 days of other leave, including sick leave and carers’ leave
- subsidised accommodation (subject to availability)
- free relocation (intra and interstate)
- professional leadership and support
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):
- Ability to implement school psychology services and programs in an educational environment to maximise student learning outcomes.
- Knowledge of the implementation and evaluation of a variety of psychological approaches appropriate for individual, group and system-level intervention.
- High level written and oral communication skills, demonstrating the capacity to produce correspondence, reports and case notes, and interview and training (facilitation) skills.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, which demonstrate an ability to function in a self-directed way, and as a member of an interdisciplinary team, working with a range of clients across the lifespan, Department personnel and inter-agency partners across a variety of contexts.
- Ability to apply analytical and conceptual skills to issues identification, risk assessment and analysis, intervention and evaluation.
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.
For further job related information:
Please contact Melanie Smith, Lead School Psychologist, by telephoning 0427 089 693 or emailing melanie.smith@education.wa.edu.au
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.
We’ve structured the application and selection process to make it easy to apply.
Your application should include:
- A comprehensive CV outlining your employment history, key achievements, experiences and professional learning as they relate to the work related requirements and the advertised 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 (or placement/university supervisor if applicable).
Further assessment in the form of an interview will be undertaken by the selection panel for all eligible candidates.
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:
- complete the Department’s induction program within three months of commencement
- complete the Department’s training in Accountable and Ethical Decision-Making within six months of appointment and every three years thereafter.
- complete the Department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness online course within 3 months of commencement
- complete any training specific to this role required by Departmental policy
- provide evidence of eligibility to work in Australia for the term of the vacancy
- consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit prior to commencement of employment
- obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check if required
- hold or be eligible for provisional or general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia
Information about registration with the Psychology Board of Australia can be obtained by calling 1300 419 495 or by visiting www.psychologyboard.gov.au. Please see the Department’s Careers website for the support provided to graduate school psychologists undertaking provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.
Applications must be submitted before 4.30pm (WST) on Monday, 8 January 2024.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE
PROFORMA, FAXED, HAND DELIVERED, POSTED, EMAILED AND LATE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.