Assistant Head Student Learning And Support

The Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader for the role of Assistant Head - Student Learning & Support

This senior leadership position is integral to ensuring that every student is known, valued, and supported. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and system-wide leadership across specialist learning services, student wellbeing frameworks, and targeted programs for students with disabilities, EAL/D learners, and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students.

This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on the delivery of inclusive education and the enhancement of student outcomes across the Diocese.

This senior leadership position is responsible for providing system wide leadership of specialist learning and support services, with a focus on students with disability captured under Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), English as a second language or dialect (EAL/D) and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander funding. The role is also responsible for the Student Wellbeing framework system wide initiatives, positive behaviour programs and student counselling services and allied health professional services offered to our schools.

This position sits on the CSO Leadership team and creates a culture of belonging and acceptance for all, ensuring:

• Every student is known as a person and a learner, and they demonstrate growth in their learning every year.
• Maximises learning opportunities for students by understanding their individual needs, individual characteristics and the impact of those factors on their learning.
• Strategic leadership in the management, facilitation, development, delivery and evaluation of services and specialist programs to support student engagement and opportunities.
• Support for students with disabilities, mental health and complex needs, aligned with the Diocesan’s student outcome priorities.
• Development of adaptive, innovative, and continuous improvement strategies for funded student support programs.
• Collaboration with the Head of Data and Analytics to ensure accuracy in specialist support and wellbeing data that informs the schools in their progress.

EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA

• A clear understanding of contemporary issues in the Catholic Church and a personal commitment to Catholic education and the mission of Catholic schools.
• Demonstrated success in ensuring a culture of continuous improvement, creating and leading effective specialist programs.
• Demonstrated management and administrative skills to ensure assessment and specialist support programs operate effectively and efficiently.
• High level communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to develop and sustain constructive and respectful relationships within and beyond the school community.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and sustaining collaborative multidisciplinary teams to provide integrated support to school staff in achieving quality student learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated capacity to think and act strategically, to plan and evaluate collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in leading specialist funded programs.
• A passion for and interest in the development of all students during their school journey.
• Expertise in current curriculum and wellbeing as well as familiarity with state and national developments in specialist education.
• Lead a commitment to student needs though the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) frameworks, such as Response To Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the capacity to effectively use data to optimise student outcomes.
• Sound knowledge of all relevant legislation and legal frameworks including child protection, work health and safety, equity and diversity and performance management principles and the capacity to implement relevant plans and policies to ensure string governance.
• Capacity to lead staff in implementing funded student support programs to ensure quality outcomes for students with additional and/or complex needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with Principals, staff in school systems, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead a team that have familiarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pedagogical approaches and learning styles and the ability to guide school staff in adopting practices that acknowledge and respect cultural perspectives in teaching and learning.
• Lead a team driving continuous improvement in support programs, ensuring they remain relevant, highquality, and responsive to the evolving needs of students.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Postgraduate qualifications in specialist education, educational leadership with demonstrated teaching experience and experience as a senior educator or an equivalent combination of experience, training, and achievement.
• NESA Teacher Accreditation.
• Current paid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) number.
• Level E Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead
• Senior Allied Health experience (desirable)

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US

• Car or allowance will be provided
• Work in quality schools where students are nurtured, challenged and encouraged to excel and grow
• A corporate fitness program through Fitness Passport
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Training and staff development programs
• Paid parental leave for eligible employees
• Access to long service leave after just five years for eligible employees.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact Sarah O'Leary on Tel: (02) 4979 1210 or via email: sarah.oleary1@mn.catholic.org.au

TO APPLY

• Please provide a cover letter along with your resume
• Within your cover letter address each of the selection criteria as listed under EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA above and ensure your response to each criteria is no longer than 300 words.

Please note, not adequately addressing the selection criteria may result in your application not being shortlisted.

Applications close: Sunday 8th December 2024 at 11.59pm

Additional information

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a child safe organisation, committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons and has zero-tolerance of any abuse. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and comply with our Safeguarding Framework Policy and Codes of Conduct.

This position has been determined as child related and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will be verifying the successful applicant’s Working with Children Check for Paid Employment prior to commencing working in the position. For more information, please visit the NSW Office of Children’s Guardian.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children.