• Be part of a highly skilled and committed team driven to help young people realize their full potential, with the opportunity to work across a multi campus school setting.
• A competitive remuneration package is available, accompanied with salary packaging benefits.
• Full time position.
• Located at our City, Sunshine, Prahran and South Melbourne Campuses – must be able to travel to other campuses as required.

About Hester Hornbrook Academy

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a Special Assistance School which provides flexible education and learning options, including VETiS (Vocational Education and Training in Schools), VPC (Victorian Pathways Certificate), VM (VCE Vocational Major), VCE and an extend program offering a variety of elective subjects. Recognising that mainstream education is not suitable for all young people, our programs are driven by the personal pursuits of students. Our HOPE – Healing Orientated Program of Education informs our Practice model which ensures the integration of academic intervention and growth with wellbeing and life skills. Teachers, Youth Workers, and Education Support Officers (ESOs) work together in a collaborative manner to support students to reach their individual goals. Our students include those who have disengaged from mainstream education, are young parents, currently in or leaving out of home care, experiencing homelessness and those who may be experiencing mental health challenges or learning difficulties.

About the Opportunity

Working as part of the Hester Hornbrook Wellbeing Team, the Family Therapeutic Engagement Worker will deliver short and long‐term therapeutic support to identified families whilst also coordinating and/or referring to the most suitable external supports to strengthen connection with the school and wider community.
The role will work collaboratively with classroom teams to identify at‐risk students with significant attendance issues and/or those experiencing challenging family relationships, to develop effective interventions for vulnerable and disengaged families. As Hester Hornbrook has a diverse school community, the role will require innovative techniques of re‐engagement to encourage families to support their young person to build their positive emotional and learning capacity and increase attendance at school.
Key elements in this role include working directly with families in an outreach capacity, delivering therapeutic interventions, coordinating case management, working closely with key community stakeholders, providing referral pathways, reporting in line with the Child Safety Standards, facilitating wider school family education sessions/workshops and delivering professional Hester Hornbrook staff.

Our ideal candidate will be able to successfully demonstrate the following key skills and attributes:

• Working with families by delivering therapeutic interventions and innovative case management through outreach to increase student wellbeing, engagement, and attendance on campus.
• Support and encourage whole school family connection through face‐to‐face contact and by facilitating wider school family/caregiver education sessions and workshops.
• Develop, capture and analyse program data to ensure the programs effectiveness, interventions and therapeutic support continue to increase student’s engagement and promote positive relationships within the school.
• Actively engage with families and key services through case coordination and referrals to collectively build and sustain positive pathways and connection to school and the wider community.
• Develop or collate and distribute resources which supports parents/carers in their roles.
• Facilitate professional development to Hester Hornbrook staff around engaging with families and managing complex family dynamics.
• Apply an understanding of our HOPE (Healing Orientated Program of Education) to support students in a way that allows them to Engage, Equip, Empower and Extend. While having a thorough understanding of a range of interventions that promote engagement and inclusivity, build rapport, and develop prosocial behaviours and relationships.
• Participate in regular supervision, supervise students, and complete additional duties as required, participate in whole school and campus meetings, the performance review processes and professional learning as required.
• Maintain competency with ICT systems such as Microsoft 365, Student Management Systems, Student Learning Platforms, and other programs utilised in the school community. Ensure that all Child Safe, risk management and Hester Hornbrook documentation is adhered to, whilst contributing to a culture of continuous review and improvement and achievement of the Hester Hornbrook Strategic Plan (SP) and Annual Implementation Plans (AIP).

Benefits

• Hester Hornbrook Academy as an Independently Registered Secondary School with its own Enterprise Agreement. 
• A competitive remuneration applies to this role together with access to tax-effective salary packaging arrangements and supportive work/life balance provisions.
• HHA recognizes the importance of investing in the training, learning and development of our staff.

How to apply

Applications should include a Cover Letter, current CV with referees and ensure that all Key Selection Criteria are addressed.  If you are a current HHA employee, please submit your application via the myHR job board. Applications close 11:59pm on 25 September 2023. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Address applications to – Sally Lasslett, Principal

For more details or assistance with application submission please email: [email protected]

Other Relevant Information

• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work visa
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must have or be willing to obtain a WWCC
• Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment safety screening process as part of the HHA selection process. 

HHA is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. HHA embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people. We are passionate about all our employees, with the skills that they bring, realising their full potential through ongoing learning and development and through embracing the positive impact that we make through our work and to the young people that we support.

Our commitment to diversity

HHA embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all different backgrounds to apply regardless of age, gender, cultural background, disability, or sexual orientation. We recognise the strength and value in diversity, and lived experience, actively fostering an inclusive workplace.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Our commitment to safety

HHA is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.