Student Wellbeing

Newcomb Secondary College provides a vibrant and modern education that has a future-focused curriculum and holistic student well-being support. Established in 1969, the college takes pride in its rich history and its commitment to creating positive pathways for young people in Geelong. The college takes its name from the surrounding suburb which is named after one of the areas earliest settlers, Caroline Newcomb. For over 50 years, Newcomb Secondary College has been creating positive pathways for young people in Geelong.

Newcomb Secondary College caters to over 500 students in Years 7 to 12, largely from Newcomb, Whittington, St Albans Park, East Geelong, South Geelong, Moolap, Leopold, and the rural areas of the Bellarine Peninsula. The school offers a broad range of individualised goals and meets student needs through well-resourced literacy and numeracy supports and an emphasis on student voice and career action plans. The college has an outstanding range of VCE, VCE-VM, and VET subjects, as well as offering School-Based Apprenticeships that build successful individual pathways for students. The school's partnership with local tertiary institutions, the Gordon and Deakin University, ensures that students benefit greatly from well-developed and innovative programs.

Newcomb Secondary College is proud to have been the first Australian-based school to offer a P-Tech Program. This program enables students to participate in corporate partner-supported pathways to learning and employment within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related industries. Through a partnership with the Gordon TAFE and key members of the Geelong business community, the College ensures that its school leavers are equipped with the skills needed for success in the workforce of the 21st century.

The College is committed to students maximising their personal growth through broad participation in a range of extra-curricular programs. Students develop confidence, teamwork, and leadership through their involvement with the extensive sports program, academic challenges, instrumental music tuition, and the renowned Music and Bike Tours providing Newcomb students the chance for students to build their resilience, which often results in the forging of lifelong friendships.

Newcomb Secondary College is dedicated to establishing a school environment that allows its students to grow and thrive intellectually, emotionally, and socially.  The college's open and light-filled learning spaces, along with its inclusive atmosphere, impress visitors. The recent redevelopment of the college has led to the refurbishment of math classrooms and music program areas, a state-of-the-art STEM space, and a 128-seat auditorium, contributing to an excellent learning and teaching environment. The college provides valuable opportunities for students to develop confidence in their leadership abilities as they work cooperatively with others. Community volunteer programs enrich student development and projects that enable students to work in and with their community. Sport is encouraged at all levels.  Throughout the school year inter-house competitions are held to foster and encourage teamwork and enthusiasm across the College. Our sporting houses are also named after prominent citizens ¿ Harrison, Drysdale, Curlewis and Wills.

It is our belief at Newcomb Secondary College that students who enjoy (and aspire to have) rich and vibrant lifestyles, with access to holistic and proactive personal well-being supports, are the most likely to enjoy lasting success with their learning experiences and individual pathway outcomes. Providing this is how Newcomb Secondary College builds positive futures for all students. 

• Demonstrated ability to support the general wellbeing of students and the school community aligned with school wide trauma informed practice.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering care through various health, counselling, wellbeing and therapeutic services to a school.
• Ability to support the school community to identify and develop educational, social and emotional programs to support students. 
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, as well as liaise effectively with a wide range of providers in the wider community.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional learning and growth.
• Demonstrated understanding of Department of Education policies and procedures specific to Child Safe Standards, Mandatory Reporting and Information Sharing.

Operating as part of our Wellbeing Team, you will:

• Work collaboratively with the Wellbeing Leader, the Wellbeing Team and Student Support team members to ensure that student needs are met with appropriate intervention in a timely manner
• Participating in all team meetings with regards to referral discussions and sharing best practice
• Receive and act on referrals
• Be adept at counselling support for students and case management
• Developing meaningful case plans and goal setting with students
• Effective crisis management, when needed
• Keep relevant, professional and up-to-date case notes on identified students in order to monitor progress and develop robust support plans
• Advocate for students were appropriate and facilitate further external referrals and acting as a conduit between the young person and the services they wish/need to access
• Following Department of Education Wellbeing practice, protocol and procedures

1. Collaborate with the student, teachers, care givers and other relevant services, including the use of interventions such as Behaviour Support Plans, Re-engagement Plans, Safety Plans, Gender Affirmation Plans and group-based interventions.

2. Liaise with families, carers and workers regarding the students wellbeing needs, involving:

   • Phone contact
   • Parent meetings
   • Attending care team meetings and other professional networks to support the student
3. Develop and implement targeted group interventions (including therapeutic interventions) to identified students
4. Promote and facilitate pro-social activities and services, both within the school and in partnership with wider community agencies and support services, including:
   • Lunchtime activities
   • Celebration days/events
   • Whole School Information sessions
   • Supporting Student led assembly presentations
5. Design and deliver small group programs to create happier, healthier and more resilient students
6. Establish effective relationships with students, acting as a role model and responding to the needs of each individual child with empathy and consistency
7. Support teachers to understand and respond to student wellbeing needs
8. Act as resource for teachers to build their capacity in the identification and development of educational, social and emotional supports to assist students who are vulnerable or have additional needs
9. Support student/staff requests for assistance in the application of reasonable adjustments and modifications
10. Act in accordance with DE Child Safe Standards, including Mandatory Reporting legislation
11. Perform other duties appropriate to the classification, at the Principal's discretion

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

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, 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 safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

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:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department'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 department values is available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

• 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