KEY SELECTION CRITERIA.

1. Eligibility for professional membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
2. Demonstrated transferable skills and experience in Social Work intervention strategies such as case management, psycho-social assessments, therapeutic support, and advocacy.
3. Demonstrated competencies in working within a family centred service delivery model and strength-based practice
4. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a key member of a trans-disciplinary team and to develop effective working relationships.
5. Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to consult with and advise other professionals working in the field of deaf education.
6. Demonstrate appropriate experience and ability to develop and deliver effective professional development workshops to colleagues.
7. Demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and Practice Principles, Early Childhood Intervention Competencies, or preparedness to actively acquire this knowledge.
8. Ability to use Auslan effectively to communicate with deaf children and deaf adults, or preparedness to undertake a recognized course to learn Auslan and a knowledge of deaf culture and issues related to deaf children.
9. Provide evidence of a commitment to personal professional development.

ROLE:

Under the direction of the Manager, Early Intervention the Social Worker will:

Support families and develop, provide and promote social work services to families with young deaf children in line with the Practice Principles and Early Childhood Intervention Competencies, family centred and strength-based practice and the Early Years Framework

Collaborate with parents, colleagues, and others to facilitate the optimal development of parental knowledge and skills.

Collaborate with colleagues and parents in developing and implementing programs which meet the identified educational, social or emotional requirements of families and their children.

Develop and maintain links with community resources and facilitate family access to these resources.

Liaise with professionals from a range of agencies. Review and evaluate programs, maintain appropriate records and provide written and oral reports as required.

Provide consultation, information, resources and support to colleagues responsible for the educational development of families and children.

Work as a member of trans-disciplinary teams in the provision of social work services and programs to children and families. Attend multidisciplinary meetings as a key member of the team.

Participate in ongoing professional development, including planning and evaluation of trans-disciplinary service delivery.

Provide professional development as required with the aim of increasing awareness, understanding and skills in the area of Social work support and services.

Support the establishment and operation of networks that enhance the provision of services to deaf children and their families.

Participate in peer support activities with other social worker colleagues and provide professional supervision to students on placement.

Other duties as required by the Principal.

Under the direction of the Manager, Early Intervention, the successful applicant will work as a member of a trans-disciplinary team in delivering statewide early intervention services through the provision of Social Work services to deaf children and their families and consultancy support services to other service providers.

Country travel will be involved. Accordingly, the successful applicant should hold a current Victorian Motor vehicle driver’s license and be prepared to use their own comprehensively insured vehicle as required. At times, overnight stays may be required. Personal expenses and ATO mileage rates are payable. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Aurora School has two campuses one at Blackburn and one at Sunshine. This position may work out of Blackburn or Sunshine campus, with regular meetings held at Blackburn.

A knowledge and understanding of deafness and deaf culture and its impact on the development of communication and language is valued.

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse or occupational therapist. Specifically:
  • For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
  • For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
  • For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
  • For Occupational Therapists must hold full registration with AHPRA
• Have demonstrated direct counselling experience
• Have a current Working With Children Check

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian college of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.

The Department of Education 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

Salary commensurate with experience

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

Aurora School is a Department of Education and Early Childhood (DE) school which specialises in Early Intervention and Early Education programs for deaf and deafblind children throughout Victoria with the main campus in Blackburn South and an additional office in Sunshine.

This position is for the role of Social Worker at Aurora School in the Early Intervention program.

Aurora School Early Intervention program is a statewide Department of Education service for young deaf children aged 0 to 6 and their families. Aurora provides regular homebased support from collaborative teams which include teachers of the deaf, educational psychologists, social workers, speech and language therapists, and Deaf educators. Bilingual programs are provided in which young deaf children are encouraged to acquire early communication and language skills by being exposed to both spoken and signed languages. The development of children’s listening skills is encouraged at all times. The program operates in term times only.

The Early Education Program specialises in education programs for young deaf children from three years of age. Within an Early Childhood Curriculum Framework there is a strong emphasis on the development of communication skills (listening, speaking, signing, reading and writing) and effective use of both expressive and receptive language. We provide a Bilingual program ensuring children have access to both English and Auslan role models.

Aurora School Community Kindergarten provides 3 and 4-year-old programs for local community children and deaf and hard of hearing children enrolled at Aurora School. This inclusive program provides a well-supported, safe and nurturing environment for all children