<p><strong>Title of Position: College Counsellor Middle Years</strong></p><p><strong>Type of Appointment: Permanent Part Time (0.6-0.8) commencing January 2025</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Context</strong></p><p>Established in 2001 in a picturesque setting in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, Pacific Lutheran College is a leading K-12 learning community that is innovative, dynamic and progressive. Firmly underpinned by the values and traditions of excellence of Lutheran Education in Australia, students have achieved outstanding success in the academic, sporting and cultural dimensions of their lives. Enrichment programs in all three areas have enabled students to explore their potential. </p><p>Pacific has established a strong academic culture, which promotes thinking, deep understandings and creativity based on the learnings of Harvard’s Teaching for Understanding and Visible Thinking frameworks.  The synergy of these programs with the research of positive psychology and Lutheran theology provides for a rich whole of life learning culture. </p><p>Unique experiences provided through the College’s excellent outdoor education, pastoral care and personal development programs, and the opportunities provided through academic, sporting and cultural learning, support an enriching whole of life education. Active involvement in local and international community service projects broaden young people’s world view and sense of efficacy. </p><p>Our staff take advantage of flexibility in physical and virtual spaces to support an increasingly personalised approach to learning for our young people. Pacific has a seamless curriculum across Kindergarten to Year 12 with teams of teachers working across the four subgroups of the College. Staff are expected to learn collaboratively to contribute to a whole school approach as they lead learning in the Foundation College (Kindergarten – Year 2), Junior College (Years 3-5), Middle College (Years 6-9) and Senior College (Years 10-12). </p><p>Salary and related conditions are as per the Teachers’ (Non-Government Schools) Award in conjunction with the most recent Lutheran Schools’ Enterprise Agreement.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Role Description</strong></p><p>The main objective of the position<strong> </strong>is<strong> </strong>to provide a professional counselling service for the middle years students of the College.  As part of this, the College Counsellor Middle Years would develop appropriate programs related to the pastoral, social emotional and psychosocial needs of students within the college community in consultation with other members of the Pastoral Care Team and also contribute to whole school planning in these areas. The role would also include referral to outside agencies, personnel on the Pastoral Care Team or other staff of the College.</p><p>The College Counsellor Middle Years works with the Learning Enrichment and Pastoral leaders of the College and is directly answerable to the Head of Student Support.</p><p>The person is expected to contribute to the growth of students through engagement in the following areas.</p><p>Strengthening Lutheran Identity</p><p>Enhance Lutheran Identity through being engaged in reflection and growth on a personal faith journey, and leading and supporting the spiritual growth of others to grow in their Christian faith and to live out the gospel. The Counsellor would achieve this through:</p><ul><li>Be open to growth in their faith journey through engagement in professional learning to gain accreditation to teach within Lutheran schools.</li><li>Attend staff briefings and chapel.</li><li>Engage with retreat and other spiritual growth opportunities provided by the College.</li><li>Work in close partnership with the College Pastor and Chaplain to ensure Counselling and growth oriented messages are consistent with the Lutheran ethos of the College.</li></ul><p>Enhancing Excellence in Teaching and Learning </p><p>Enhance the learning outcomes of students across the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, cultural and social dimensions of life consistent with the learning philosophy and programs of the College. </p><ul><li>Counselling - The first and most important priority is to provide professional counselling and support for students, thus enabling them to function more effectively in the school environment. From time to time, extended support for families may be provided; however, this is secondary to the primary focus of working with students. The primary tasks and responsibilities when working with students are as follows:<ul><li>To plan negotiate and provide a counselling program based on social / emotional / behavioural and learning needs of the students.</li><li>Preserve the confidentiality of the counsellor/client relationship whilst balancing duty of care.  This will require a full understanding of the Privacy Act (December 2001).</li><li>Assist students, families and college staff to resolve issues that adversely affect the personal and academic functioning of the students.</li><li>To provide case management for referred students who require professional counselling.</li><li>Act as a resource person to staff in dealing with students with emotional / social and behavioural difficulties.</li><li>Maintain confidential records and necessary reports of individual clients, and maintain counselling database, and statistical overview in line with the current legal requirements.</li><li>To pass onto the Principal details of all high-level risk issues.</li><li>To direct referrals to other staff, including members of the Pastoral Care Team and Learning Enrichment teachers, and others where appropriate.</li></ul></li><li>Referral <ul><li>Develop and implement detailed procedures for effective and professional processes of referral to a range of appropriate community professionals.</li><li>Develop, monitor and maintain referral model for students, staff, parents and other professionals.</li><li>Liaise with parents and college personnel to access information for referral purposes and to communicate assessment outcomes in a sensitive manner.</li></ul></li><li>Advocacy<ul><li>Ensure appropriate combination of relevant information to staff and parents.</li><li>Identify counselling and support needs within the school community and promote the development of policies, programs and resources to meet those needs.</li></ul></li><li>Development of Support Programs and Personal Support Plans - The College Counsellor Middle Years will play a key role in the development and implementation of programs that support the students, parents and staff within the school in consultation with the Learning Enrichment and Pastoral Care Team.  This is a secondary, but nevertheless important role in maintaining a healthy school community.  Programs must be developed in full consultation with the Director of Student of Engagement.  The College Counsellor Middle Years will show leadership and influence by:<ul><li>Developing and implementing social emotional programs for students.</li><li>Implementing professional development and parenting programs and/or information sessions.</li><li>Supporting the development and implementation of effective pastoral care and personal development programs for students including those related to mental health.</li><li>To identify needs of the College, and instigate appropriate programs which will require ongoing evaluation, interpretation and provision of results to staff.</li><li>To assist staff in the implementation of programs, and to model teaching methods associated with particular programs. </li><li>Under the direction of the Head of Learning Enrichment or Head of Student Support develop Personal Support Plans for middle years students.</li></ul></li></ul><p>Engage in ongoing improvement and innovation</p><p>Engage in ongoing professional learning and evidence-based improvement through collaboration and personal reflection and action. Contribute to whole school improvement processes. Form partnerships and connections with outside agencies and learning communities including professional networks and universities.</p><ul><li>Professional Development<ul><li>Participate in professional development to maintain and enhance skills, professional practices and the knowledge base required to meet a range of professional and educational needs.</li><li>Organise and attend professional psychological supervision for debriefing and advisory purposes.</li><li>The Counsellor will be responsible for the costs of external supervision.</li></ul></li><li>Contribute to professional discussion with colleagues in a range of forums to evaluate practice directed at improving professional knowledge and practice, and the educational outcomes for students.</li><li>Engage in reflection, collaborative planning, monitoring and review.</li></ul><p>Community Building</p><p>Develop positive partnerships with staff, students, parents and wider community to foster a rich learning community. </p><ul><li>Represent and promote the College and provide prospective and current families with information about services within the college. This would include the production of information for parents and staff publicising the service and providing other relevant information including weekly publications in the Compass in consultation with the Head of Student Support.</li><li>Attend College functions and information evenings to foster community connections.</li><li>Foster effective learning partnerships with students, staff, parents and members of the wider community.</li><li>Demonstrate responsiveness in all communications with parents/carers about their children’s learning needs.</li><li>Conduct conferences with parents and students.</li><li>Act professionally at all times in dealing with students, peers, members of the profession and members of the community.</li></ul><p>Leading Effective Organisation and Management</p><p>Fulfill role responsibilities so that human, virtual, physical and financial resources are efficiently organised and managed to provide an effective, safe and caring learning environment. Best practice is built through collaboration with different sections of the College, College Council, parents, government and community agencies including universities and other providers.</p><ul><li>The College Counsellor Middle Years is an integral part of the Management Team during times of crisis.  Professional support for members of the College community is to be provided as a member of the Crisis Management Team.  The major role during these times is to work in consultation with the Principal and Chaplains to co-ordinate and provide crisis management counselling and debriefing to staff, students and families as directed including the coordination of counselling and support teams as needed.</li><li>Contribute to the preparation, of a Counselling budget that includes the identification and acquisition of resources.</li><li>To research and identify needs within the College and co-ordinate visiting speakers and additional resources in consultation with the Head of Student Support and Pastoral Care Team.</li><li>Know and adhere to departmental and College policies and procedures and assist in the development of policy in relevant areas of the College.</li><li>Attend and contribute to Pastoral Care, Wellbeing and College staff meetings.</li><li>Keep appropriate records with a view to privacy and other legislative requirements.</li><li>Have an awareness of personal health and wellbeing for themselves and their colleagues.</li><li>Adhere to the workplace health and safety requirements of the position.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Selection Criteria</strong></p><p>The successful applicant will need to demonstrate or have the demonstrated capacity to develop the capabilities described below:</p><p><strong>SC1.</strong> The demonstrated ability to support the Christian ethos of the College, its worship and devotional program. </p><p><strong>SC2.</strong> Knowledge and demonstrated skills of contemporary practice in the provision of Counselling services in a middle years educational context. This would include the ability to support and implement programs that support the social emotional and mental health of students and staff.</p><p><strong>SC3.</strong> A demonstrated commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in the provision of services and programs.</p><p><strong>SC4.</strong> Demonstrated professional skills that foster effective learning partnerships with students, parents and members of the wider community. This includes the ability to lead and provide professional learning experiences for students, parents and staff to support a positive focused environment with a high standard of pastoral care.</p><p><strong>SC5.</strong> Demonstrated levels of confidence, flexibility, teamwork, innovation and perseverance required to get the best from children and contribute to a highly effective K-12 learning culture. This would include a commitment to ongoing professional learning and growth across all dimensions of College life.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Knowledge, Qualification and Application Process</strong></p><p>The position is open to Counsellors with both teaching and non-teaching qualifications. Formal qualifications in Counselling or Psychology will be required. Teachers must possess or be eligible for registration within Queensland. Non teachers must have or be eligible to acquire a Blue Card and maintain their Suitability to Work with Children requirements. The salary level for this position will be negotiated dependent on the applicant’s qualifications and experience in line with the current Queensland Lutheran Schools Enterprise Agreement.</p><p>To read the full position description, please visit our website at: <a href="https://pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/our-college/vacancies." rel="nofollow">https://pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/our-college/vacancies.</a>  Please feel free to contact the Principal in relation to any queries regarding your application.</p><p>Applicants <strong>must address the selection criteria</strong> and email their application to <a href="mailto:admin&#64;pacluth.qld.edu.au" rel="nofollow">admin&#64;pacluth.qld.edu.au</a> Attention: Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal, Pacific Lutheran College, by <strong>noon Friday 6th December 2024</strong>.</p>