Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in middle and senior year student career pathways and the interconnect with meaningful student outcomes;
• Demonstrated capacity to engage students or industry with program models and manage program data in accordance with government and education policy;
• Experienced in advanced interventions in dealing with particularly complex cases that may require cross-profession or industry collaboration;
• Effective communication skills when engaging with various stakeholders and levels of management including a commitment to the DET values;
• Effective management of personal workload and motivation to deliver a program that rests across a large number of stakeholders, including student and support networks, schools and education systems, industry and workplace compliance and overarching state and Commonwealth regulations;
• Demonstrated proficiency in data systems and analysis.

Role

The Head Start Coordinator is a professional role, delivering a critical management and support function using a student-centred approach. The coordinator may engage or support students from up to 50 government secondary and specialist schools, as well as Flexible Learning Options settings that align with one of the twelve program hubs across Victoria.

Reporting directly to the Head Start Hub Director; the Head Start Coordinator will:

• develop and support Head Start arrangements that align with individual student’s stated career aspirations and interests supported by a collaborative sign-up process;
• support the student’s progress through school and training; regularly undertaking site visits and reviewing the appropriateness of the work or training site;
• provide students with relevant and practical skills development for the workplace and training settings; and provide a safe, supportive and positive environment that values professional development;
• ensure appropriate support levels are maintained across the school/s providing key support and timely advice to the Hub Director, teachers and career practitioners
• develop and implement professional support tools for the success of the Head Start program, including guidance to teaching, career, employer and other professional staff;
• liaise with the general school community, the department and other government agencies; training, employer and other related service providers when needed;
• support the Head Start service provided to students or industry alongside program colleagues from across the state by identifying improvement opportunities and risk for strong student outcomes. 

Responsibilities

• Manage the delivery of a range of program support services using a student-centred approach across schools or industry, including coordinating the student workplace matching process;
• Determine work priorities, schedule and approach consistent with overall school and department policy frameworks; and manage relationships with school staff to ensure program goals are achieved;
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key program stakeholders such as students and their support networks, employers, training providers, Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and the local community.
• Negotiate and manage contracts and service agreements relating to the program; and act on behalf of the Head Start leadership team in the delivery of student and/or industry services;
• Develops and seeks to improve successful interconnections between the senior secondary reform programs; and identifies and responds to any unforeseen touch points or risks with such programs and other departmental initiatives alongside state-wide colleagues delivering the Head Start SBATs program;
• Maintains detailed records for each student and industry engagement involved in the Head Start SBATs program; including interpret and analyse data to inform and provide authoritative advice to school and program leadership;
• Supervision of students can be required where it is an integral part of the employee’s position or in circumstances where supervision is required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.
• Other duties as directed.

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

The Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.  The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.  It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 801 or email on: brett.west@education.vic.gov.au

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

Other important information

A tertiary qualification that will add value to the context of education, training and skills opportunities for students.

An understanding of the school setting, particularly the relationships between middle and senior secondary education with career pathways is desired.

A current employee Working With Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work accross a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current dirver's licence is required.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current driver’s licence.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current driver’s licence.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

A current employee Working with Children Check card is mandatory.

Staff may be required to work across a number of school sites and visit workplaces.

A current driver’s licence.

This position will require the candidate to allocate a minimum of two weeks leave allowance to work during the school vacation period, additional leave allowance may be considered.

Location Profile

Pakenham Secondary College will be hosting the following position on behalf of the Southern Head Start Hub. The Southern Hub will cover the Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia LGA. Head Start is a wraparound service provision that powers school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Head Start aims to improve the outcomes, quality assurance and equitable distribution of opportunities for senior secondary and special education students who undertake school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs). Head Start also considers middle school students’ preparedness for success in the SBATs program. The Head Start SBAT program was piloted in over 150 schools from 2019 with strong outcomes. The expansion of the program will ensure access to all Victorian government secondary schools, including special schools, and Flexible Learning Options.

The program will introduce more rigorous SBAT compliance and monitoring across the system supporting the state’s response to the 2020 Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth Review) reform agenda in senior secondary and vocational education. These reforms will collectively support all Victorian secondary students to pursue high-quality and valued vocational pathways aligned to their strengths and interests and to finish schooling with the skills and capabilities they need for success in further education, training, work, and life. The expansion of SBATs will also assist in addressing prioritised skill shortages by providing employers with support and access to school-based apprentices and trainees. The Head Start SBAT program includes flexible delivery of the senior secondary certificate with a strong focus on literacy and numeracy attainment; quality training delivered concurrently with secondary school education; and time on the job to support achievement of competencies.

The option to maximise time in employment has proven to support students’ genuine progression through the apprenticeship or traineeship whilst meeting employer requirements. The program provides students with a clear pathway from school into employment with a qualification.