ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will demonstrate the below attributes to the panel:

• Has an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities within the department policy and school context.
• Identifies innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills to support stakeholder understanding of inclusion within schools and prepare high quality reports, briefing and correspondence.
• Effective project delivery inclusive of planning, engaging stakeholders, implementing, evaluating and reporting on outcomes.
• An ability to work with multiple stakeholders to support inclusion within schools
• Develops inclusion capability by improving the knowledge, skills, and ability of others.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Essential: A relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (E.g. Education, Nursing, Disabilities Services or Allied Health)
• Desirable: Experience working with/ in school leadership teams and with school aged children where reasonable adjustments are required in an educational setting due to student additional needs or disability.
  The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working With Children Check and drivers licence.

The ongoing 0.6 FTE `Senior Program Advisor - Disabilities Coordinator’ position is available for a tertiary qualified Education, Nursing, Disabilities Services or Allied Health professional who understands the legislated rights of students with a disability as well as having a sound understanding of broad educational policies and school based operational requirements.
The primary responsibility of this role is to lead the implementation of programs designed to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, including strategies that ensure inclusive practices and effective educational programs to support student with disabilities in schools from Foundation until year 12 and can work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure this.
The role contributes to and supports the inclusive education agenda by performing all roles required of the Disabilities Coordinator. Working within the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services branch, the role will work closely with other area staff, divisional staff and central staff. The Disabilities Coordinator will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within and across the area.
The role requires an excellent understanding of disability, inclusion and the legislated rights of children and students with disabilities within an educational context and has a sound practical understanding of reasonable adjustments which would enhance educational access and success for students within a school based environment.
The position works with schools and families in a way that promotes competency, strengthens families and schools relationships and encourages collaborative planning for student learning needs.
The Disabilities Coordinator develops, builds and maintains close working relationships with regional staff and schools and develops effective linkages with relevant health and wellbeing service providers in the area. This includes finding innovative solutions to stakeholder issues, overcoming barriers, garnering support and negotiating appropriate outcomes in highly complex individual cases along with preparing high quality correspondence and briefings, whilst liaising with a range of stakeholders and management as required.
The position provides training and support for inclusive education and the effective implementation of Disability Inclusion policies. The position also provides opportunities to develop and manage projects to drive change for schools to deliver effective educational outcomes for students with disabilities and additional support needs.