ES2 | Multicultural Cultural Liaison Officer | Pasifika

Location: North East Region | Shepparton

Job type: Part time / From 07/10/2024 - 18/12/2026

Organisation: Schools (Government)

Salary: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1432+64

Location Profile
Our way of doing things at GSSC

The saying goes at Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) that we are Greater Together! That is our families, staff and community all working together to support our young people, and our students leaning on these support networks to achieve their best.

Although we are a big school able to cater for more than 2,200 students, we have been able to retain a `small school¿ atmosphere through our House and Neighbourhood structure. Through this model, our students are able to feel a sense of Greater Belonging by having a house to call home. This provides students an opportunity to build relationships with key neighbourhood staff, as well as with their peers through our Vertical Home Groups.

Building relationships and nurturing a student-centred culture is at the forefront of everything that we do here at GSSC. Our College and House Captains and specialist First Nations, Multicultural, Values, Environmental and Music Student Leaders provide invaluable student voice and input and role model our college values and ethos at various events and activities, both in the school and in the community.

Our award-winning Careers Team provide the supports our students need to set Greater Expectations for themselves and to aspire for excellence. While we ask our students to set high expectations of themselves and each other, we also recognise that achieving your personal best is just that, personal! This is why our careers pathway mentoring and counselling is targeted to each individual student and our curriculum is tailored at each year level.

In addition to this, our Wellbeing Team here at GSSC is focused on providing Greater Care to our students through a range of services and initiatives including our Doctors in School program, paediatric clinic, Program for Students with a Disability, Secondary School Nurses and Mental Health Practitioners. GSSC Wellbeing Officers are also based in each neighbourhood to support students on a day-to-day basis.

This team around the learner is further strengthened by our Ngarri Ngarri team, made by of six staff and a Team Leader who work across neighbourhoods to support First Nations students and their families. Our Multicultural Liaison Officers (MLO) provide this same support for our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse families and speak a range of languages including Arabic, Dari, Persian, Hazaragi, Swahili, Kirundi and Samoan. Both teams work in and outside of the classroom to promote active student participation, positive family engagement, a proactive home/school partnership, culturally safe learning environment and inclusive curriculum and teaching and learning practices.

Our Wellbeing and Inclusion Hub also including a range of external allied health and education agencies working in school to support students.

Find out more about GSSC: https://www.gssc.vic.edu.au/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreaterSheppartonSC

Our facilities

Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) is among the most contemporary secondary schools in the country, featuring award-winning school design and cutting-edge facilities.

A double gymnasium, theatrette, green room and roof-top gardens are among features found in few secondary schools. GSSC¿s Enterprise and Innovation Centre for the arts, media, science and technology provides students with the subject choice and education pathways only a big school can deliver.

Our people

They say it takes a village to raise a child and the same goes for our school community ¿ we simply could not do it without our talented, diverse and passionate teaching and education support staff.

Whether it¿s in front of the classroom, maintaining our beautiful school grounds and facilities, in a leadership role, administration or providing extra support for our students and families, there are so many ways you can have a positive impact on the lives of young people here at GSSC.

Although we are a relatively new school, our people have built a fantastic workplace culture here at the college, through a induction and mentorship program supporting new staff. Our staff are also the driving force behind an active calendar of social events and opportunities to get to know one an other in a different way. Not only that but we have the benefit of living in a vibrant regional area that strives to foster a sense of community and offers a wide range of sport and recreation choice and caters to a growing food and wine culture.

Teaching in Greater Shepparton also means having the very best in professional learning and inspiration on your doorstep, with the city being home to one of the few regional centres of the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, building on the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership based in Melbourne.

The Academy provides an unprecedented opportunity for our best teachers to develop their skills and become recognised as state-wide leaders in teaching excellence, while still teaching in their Shepparton classroom.

Find out more about the Academy here: https://www.academy.vic.gov.au/
Hear from our talented teaching staff about why they love teaching in our community:
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvLX0wXi7LA

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDBLqF3dyWs

Our community

GSSC is a reflection of its community in that it is a highly multicultural school and welcomes students from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We are committed to creating a school community where all members of our school community are welcomed, accepted and treated equitably and with respect.

GSSC stands on the Country of the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples, nations, tribes and clans and the Greater Shepparton area is home to the largest population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people outside of Melbourne.

Greater Shepparton is located 180 kilometres north of Melbourne, with a population of 66,000. It is the fifth-largest city in regional Victoria and consists of Shepparton city, Mooroopna and Tatura.
The area is a culturally and linguistically diverse community with almost one quarter of the population born overseas in more than 50 different countries. Migrant communities are predominately from Italy and Albania and settled in the region after World War II. In the following years, refugees have come from Iraq, Kuwait, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recent arrivals have come from Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan and other parts of Africa.

More about our First Nations history and diversity here: Shepparton and Goulburn Valley Destination Rebrand Hero Video - YouTube
More about the Greater Shepparton community here: https://greatershepparton.com.au/region/moving-here
Our history

GSSC was formed by the merge of four secondary colleges in Shepparton and Mooroopna, as part of the Shepparton Education Plan - a 10-year Victorian Government strategy to transform Shepparton¿s education system for young people from early learning, through to primary and secondary school, and beyond to higher skills and further education.

GSSC commenced in 2020 across the four campuses: Shepparton High School, McGuire College, Wanganui Park Secondary College and Mooroopna Secondary College.

Our combined campus, built on the former Shepparton High School site on Hawdon Street, opened in 2022 bringing students from all four campuses onto the one site.

More on Education Plans Victoria here: https://www.vic.gov.au/education-plans
Relocation Assistance

Our Community Connector Program provides a service to support employees contemplating applying or accepting a position with a Greater Shepparton organisation, or those who have already accepted a job and are needing to move to the region to start their role

The program can assist with:

1. Finding a home

2. Finding a job for your partner

3. Determine the right school or childcare

4. Provide Local intel

5. Deeply connect you with the community ¿ linking to sporting groups etc

6. They also have networking opportunities

https://greatthings.com.au/live

Our Community Connector has a passion for regional communities and a drive to see people connected to create a rich and happy life. They are excited about each opportunity and appreciates that we all have a role to play in showcasing the best of Greater Shepparton.

You are welcome to phone 0468 562 826 for more information.

Selection Criteria
SC1 Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2 Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3 Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4 Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5 Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6 A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

Role
Onsite: 2.5 days per week

No attendance during school holidays

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.
An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

Responsibilities
Work across the Neighbourhoods and houses on the Greater Shepparton Secondary Campus Hawdon Street
Understand and follow school policies, including those relating to confidentiality of information about students and families
Support students to engage respectfully in the school community including assisting students to find classes and attending bus interchanges
Support communication between GSSC and multicultural families
Participate in professional development, school and multicultural network meetings
Student and staff:


Support EAL (English as an Additional Language) in EAL English Classes
Support teachers¿ general communication with multicultural students.
Act as a resource to develop staff knowledge of multicultural students¿ backgrounds and the issues they face.
Identify and support students who require material basics support
Help teachers/leaders create and manage programs for new EAL students transitioning to GSSC
Support teaching staff to develop and run lunch time groups including the supervision of the prayer room
Support the planning, coordination and execution of multicultural events at GSSC
Support student multicultural leaders in their role

Parent and community engagement:


Support discussions involving leadership/teachers, multicultural parents/guardians and students to address matters of student behaviour and academic progress collaboratively
Support multicultural students and their families to understand available pathways, including attending and assisting during subject selection and information events
Support the transition of multicultural students including from year 6 to year 7, and students from other educational setting to GSSC
Support the transition of SELC students including attending community reading up to twice a term, attending transition visits and attending family information sessions
Assist multicultural families to participate in school activities and programs. This could include but not limited to Welcome nights, Transition Nights and activities, information nights, family meeting nights, and assemblies
Assist multicultural students and families with the preparation of forms and applications eg GSSC enrolment, Scholarship applications, SEAS applications and Applications for VCE unit 3/4 EAL English

Student and family wellbeing:


Support activities that build connections between multicultural students and families and the school community
Partner with House/Neighborhood leadership and/or Wellbeing staff to make sure multicultural students can access appropriate support
Work with Wellbeing staff to guide students and families to multicultural services or programs as needed
Attendance at weekly team meeting to discuss the teaching and learning and welfare needs of multicultural students
Attendance at case management meeting as required to discuss the teaching and learning and welfare needs of multicultural students
With support of teaching/wellbeing staff, provide support to multicultural students

Additional duties as required


Attend homework club and encourage multicultural students to attend
Support students to arrive to class on time.
Attend school camps, excursions, and sports days
Help community organization work with GSSC to arrange and facilitate programs and workshops at the school
Other duties as required by the Principal

Other duties as directed by the Executive Principal

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

EEO AND OHS Commitment
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.

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).

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

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 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

DE Values
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

Conditions of Employment
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