Mental Health Practitioner
Full job description
Overview
Work Type: Fixed-term - Part-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Education Support - Level 1, Range 4
Occupation: Health and allied health
Location: Grampians - Ballarat
Reference: 1491641
Location Profile
Ballarat Specialist School caters for students aged from 3 and 18 years who have a diagnosed intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound. Ballarat Specialist School is a dual-campus K-12 school organised around three stages of learning - Primary School (Ages 5-12), Middle School (Ages 13-15) and Senior School (Ages 16-18). Our Early Learning to Middle School students are accommodated on our main Gillies Street Campus. Our Senior School students are located at our 8.09 hectare FARM Campus in Norman Street. Our current enrolment is approximately 442 students.
Our school's mission is "Achieving Personal Success Together". We strive to enable our students and staff to reach their full potential in a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment. Our educational programs provide a balanced and personalised curriculum where student achievement is acknowledged and celebrated.
Ballarat Specialist School provides an inclusive and rigorous learning program that challenges and engages students to grow as passionate learners. The school's teaching and learning programs are underpinned by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, The Victorian Curriculum and the Victorian pathways Certificate. A comprehensive curriculum, with a strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy, is embedded into curriculum maps for each of the three mini-schools within the school. Each curriculum map is designed to meet the learning needs of students at their individual stages of learning. This is supported by Individual Education Plans for all students. Communication is a keystone of all learning and curriculums within the school. The school's pedagogy reflects current research, and best practice is enacted to maximise student learning outcomes. Our teaching and learning programs are anchored in a gradual release of responsibility model to enable our students to become independent and lifelong learners. Through Professional Learning Communities, Ballarat Specialist School teachers invest in the collective application of curriculum, assessment, shared learning, reflection and they engage in inquiry about student work.
Our specialist programs include: Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education (PE) and Hospitality. The school also operates two cafés open to the public. The Special Treats Café is located at our Gillies St. campus and the FARM Café is located at our Norman street FARM campus. We also have a school based Op shop (Vintage Soul) that operates from our FARM Campus. Through these enterprises, we can offer students pathways to future employment as these school-based work areas and programs are connected to the specific delivery of Certificate II Courses through local TAFE institutes. The courses conducted onsite are Kitchen Operations, Retail, Horticulture, Visual Arts, Sport & Recreation, Retail, and Life skills (Cert I).
Individual Educational Plans (IEP’s) are developed by the Student Support Group, which comprises parents and carers, outside agencies, and school staff. The IEPs are then implemented by school staff, including Classroom Teachers and Classroom Assistants and supported by the Integrated Service Team.
Selection Criteria
Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.
Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.
Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.
Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.
Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information
Role
The Premier of Victoria issued a media release on 7 August 2020, announcing increased mental health supports for Victorian students. A part of this announcement was the Mental Health Practitioners in Specialist Schools initiative, which provides funding to every specialist school with secondary-aged enrolments to employ a suitably qualified Mental Health Practitioner.Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:
provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health needs; coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required; and enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and
wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.
Education support class level 1 range 4
The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
For more information on the responsibilities of an Education support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Documents/VGSA-2017.pdf
Responsibilities
Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.
Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
Demonstrate leadership and provide professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students¿ learning and developmental outcomes.
Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.
Please note: Continued professional learning is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Who May Apply
Required
Applicants must:
hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in
Social Work
Occupational Therapy
Nursing with a mental health specialisation
Psychology.
hold full registration with the requisite professional body where applicable
for Social Work applicants, be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
have demonstrated direct counselling experience
have a current Working with Children Check.
Desirable:
Demonstrated experience working with people with disabilities.
For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
For Occupational Therapist applicants, hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.
For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
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
Other Information
Commencement Date
Our school is prepared to be flexible regarding the commencement date. We are prepared to accept a later starting date in order to attract the best candidate.
Please ensure that your application includes:
a resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
a section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees
Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action
Privacy Notification
We are collecting your personal information for the purposes of processing and considering your application for employment. We will use and disclose the information we collect from you only for these purposes. Unsuccessful job applications are retained for six (6) months and then securely destroyed. Your personal information is kept secure and confidential and managed in accordance with the Department of Education & Training Information Privacy Policy.
If you have any concerns about how your information is being managed or wish to obtain a copy of the Department's Information Privacy Policy please contact Corporate HR Services on 9637 3828 or visit:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/privacypolicy.aspx
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
Applications close Monday 29 September 2025 at 11.59pm
Posted
3 September 2025