Teacher of Inclusive Education

The Context

Arethusa College is an independent, co-educational school catering for students from Year 7 to Year 12. Arethusa College provides an alternative approach to education for students where previous schooling in a mainstream setting has not been successful due to social, emotional, physical, educational, familial or situational difficulties. The College believes that engagement in education has the potential to empower marginalised students.

Arethusa’s holistic programs aim to re-engage and support students who are experiencing a wide range of risks, challenges and difficulties, aiming to establish a pathway to their employment. By providing flexible learning environments, with targeted and diverse curriculum programs, Arethusa College strives to support and develop its students, both physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually and academically. All programs are underpinned by elements of quality pedagogy, targeted literacy and numeracy development, 21st Century skills, design thinking and the development of responsible, global citizenship.

Arethusa College offers students a ‘fresh start’ and an alternative approach to education, seeking to develop each student’s core knowledge and skills; as well as guiding them to develop and achieve both personal and career goals. The College provides supportive and educational programs to assist students’ social, emotional and physical health.

The Role 

It is a unique opportunity for experienced teachers (minimum of 2 years) to work within a Special Assistance School at our Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) Campus where individualised and personalised learning is prioritised for students who have previously disengaged from mainstream education. These students present with diverse learning needs and require interventions and adjustments to enable them to flourish and succeed. Involvement and participation in the pastoral care framework of the College, as well as in the co-curricular program, is an integral part of the Inclusive Education teacher’s role.

This position works under the direction of the Principal as part of the wider Inclusive Education Team, towards whole of school inclusive education practices. It is designed to support students with special needs, learning difficulties and/or social-emotional stressors, to achieve and succeed in their education through enhancing the capacity of teaching teams to build upon inclusive practices within the College. It is underpinned by the College’s firm commitment to inclusion for all students. The ideal candidate will have recent relevant experience within a school setting, will be exceptionally caring and have the ability to develop an excellent rapport with staff, students, families and community members. They will be highly motivated, committed team players, with the ability to both follow guidance of and lead their team members in areas of professional strength as negotiated. Effective time managers, they will be able to prioritise competing demands, seek assistance from team members when required and develop an effective working relationship with all staff. They will be familiar with funding applications, compliance documents and accountability requirements, as well as having the skills to present and use data to inform teaching.

The role reports to the Principal and requires close work with both the campus and cross campus teams to ensure the best outcomes for all students. The Teacher of Inclusive Education will need good administrative, organisational and record keeping skills as well as high levels of confidentiality. 

Key Responsibilities

Consistent with the mission of Arethusa College the position will:

• Develop and maintain effective professional relationships with campus and cross campus teams building capacity of teaching teams to meet the individualised needs of our diverse learners
• Undertake Education Adjustment Program (EAP) verification processes with the families of students with disability
• Follow the whole of school Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) procedures including planning, gathering, monitoring and evaluating and reflecting upon the implementation of the process
• Liaise with medical and educational professionals for assessments, diagnoses and the implementation of support programs
• Work closely with teaching teams and College families to support students with special needs and/or learning difficulties
• Facilitate meetings with stakeholders and administrate these plans (such as Individual Education Plans; Education Support Plans etc)
• Develop, implement and monitor appropriate support programs for students together with the Inclusive Education Team
• Interpret, disseminate and act upon assessments conducted by related specialists such as Speech Pathologists and Educational Psychologists
• Test and diagnose learning difficulties using a range of reputable instruments, both diagnostic and standardised
• Undertake responsibility, as a teacher, for the care of students
• Adapt teaching by differentiating the written, delivered and assessed curriculum to enhance the learning opportunities and achievements of students
• Record and maintain up to date and accurate records of student progress

Qualifications

• Experienced teacher (minimum 2 years)
• Graduate or post-graduate qualifications in Special Education preferred.
• Current Registration with the Queensland College of Teachers. 

A confident driver with an open QLD licence is essential for this role.

All applications to include a copy of QCT Registration, cover letter and a detailed resume.