Student Wellbeing Officer

Glen Waverley Secondary College is a high-performing, inclusive, and dynamic learning community, proudly educating roughly 2400 students from Years 7 to 12 in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

Our vision, Growing respectful, responsible, resilient global citizens who value diversity and lifelong learning; is enacted through our values of Respect, Diversity, Commitment, Perseverance, and Accomplishment. These values are embedded in daily practice, guide decision-making, and are celebrated through the Gain Wisdom Merit Program, which recognises students who exemplify our school values.

We provide a safe, supportive, and orderly environment where every student is encouraged to achieve their personal best. Our teaching and learning programs are underpinned by evidence-based practice, ongoing professional learning, and a commitment to high expectations for all students. As a Respectful Relationships Lead School, we foster a culture of respect, equality, and inclusion, ensuring that positive relationships are central to our school community. We actively value student voice and agency, recognising that student perspectives help shape learning, wellbeing, and the broader school experience.

While we are proud of our consistently strong VCE and NAPLAN results, we are most proud of our students' learning growth and our commitment to knowing and supporting each learner as a whole person, academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our curriculum is broad and diverse, offering pathways to meet the needs and aspirations of all learners, including VCE, VCE Vocational Major, VET programs, and university extension studies. Specialist programs in STEM, Languages, and the Arts, alongside a comprehensive wellbeing framework, ensure that every student can pursue their passions and prepare for future success. 

Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in all aspects of school life, including our expansive, student-led Clubs Program, which offers a wide range of academic, cultural, creative, sporting, and service opportunities. Through our dedicated GWSC Clubs platform, students can explore, join, or even establish new clubs, ensuring the program continually reflects student voice and innovation.

We offer an extensive range of co-curricular opportunities, including our renowned Instrumental Music Program, competitive sport, peer support, visual and performing arts, science and technology competitions, and a thriving student leadership program. These experiences enrich learning, build confidence, and foster a strong sense of belonging.

Glen Waverley Secondary College is a culturally rich and globally connected school community. We value the contributions of our families, alumni, and community partners, who work with us to provide real-world learning experiences and support student growth beyond the classroom.

With a proud history of academic excellence and a vibrant culture of participation, Glen Waverley Secondary College is a school of choice, where students are empowered to learn, lead, and succeed.

1. Experience and qualifications in counselling, or social work including the provision of individual counselling support for adolescents. Demonstrated experience working within a secondary school setting or relevant field.
2. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build positive and respectful relationships with students, families, staff and other key stakeholders.
3. Demonstrated commitment to the College vision and values, with the capacity to contribute proactively to whole school student wellbeing initiatives; such as mental health promotion days. 
4. Demonstrated deep understanding of evidence-based counselling practice and how this informs your applied student center approach.
5. Demonstrated capacity to assess and respond to student wellbeing concerns, including experience in case management, risk assessment, referrals, child safety and supporting students with complex needs.

The leadership structure of Glen Waverley Secondary College incorporates a Student Wellbeing team who assumes responsibility for supporting the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and physical needs for all students. The Wellbeing team is primarily responsible for the implementation of wellbeing process and policies. In addition, the wellbeing team liaises with parents and external agencies.  The Student Wellbeing team ensures that processes are in place to meet the wellbeing needs of the students at the College.  They oversee the range of wellbeing programs at the College and identify areas for improvement, and source or develop additional resources/programs to meet these needs.

As a part of the DET approach to Improving Student Wellbeing outcomes, the GWSC Wellbeing team works to toward addressing the three tiers of support:

Tier 1: Positive mental health promotion

Tier 2: Early intervention and cohort specific support

Tier 3: Targeted support

As Student Wellbeing Officer you will: 

• Respond to wellbeing needs in accordance with DET and GWSC wellbeing process' and policies.
• Identify, assess, guide and provide individual counselling for students at educational or personal risk including case management where appropriate.
• Identify, source and facilitate relevant programs to support wellbeing needs of students and college e.g. resilience program, peer support after consultation with Director or Assistant Director of Wellbeing.
• Assist in creation and implementation of student presentations, college events and information nights as required.
• Participate in weekly wellbeing team and sub-school meetings as required.
• Provide high levels of communication with students, parents, college staff, Sub-schools and leadership in regards to students engaged in counselling with the wellbeing team.
• Attend and co-ordinate Care Team meetings for students with whom are in the following categories:  School Refusal, complex mental health concerns, Out of Home Care Students, Students exposed to Family Violence, students with learning needs, Students with behavioral concerns, Koori Students and any other need identified.
• Record thorough case notes on compass system and store or share in accordance with wellbeing processes.
• Provide high levels of administrative duties in line with wellbeing processes and procedures. 
• Facilitate and coordinate referrals and appointments for External services after consultation with Director or Assistant Director of Wellbeing.
• Make appropriate referrals for parents/guardians/families to external agencies based upon their needs after consultation with Director or Assistant Director of Wellbeing.
• Identify, attend and share relevant PD to enhance the skills of the wellbeing team in consultation with Director or Assistant Director of Wellbeing.
• Provide high levels of communication with DET, Government and Community organizations such as: SSSO, VicPol YRO, DFFH, Orange Door and others as required.
• Promote the Child Safe Standards. 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 accordance with their legal obligations, including the Child Safe Standards. The schools Child Safety Code of Conduct is available on the schools website.
• Other duties as directed by the Principal or their delegate.

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

Please contact Amanda Provis (Assistant Principal) 8805 6705  or Peter Daniel (Business Manager) on 8805 6700 with any queries for this position. 

• 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