Associate Principal

Branch: School of Swimming and Water Safety

Division: Service Delivery - Statewide Services

Salary: Level 4, $154,675 - $164,503 per annum (pro-rata) (SEA GA 2023)

Work Type: Permanent - Full Time

FTE: 1.0

Location: Padbury

Closing Date: 2025-11-19 4:30 PM

Attachments: - endorsed jdf - 00047579 - associate principal - school of swimming and water safety - admin 4 - oct 2025.pdf

This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 1, 2026

In Western Australia, the Department of Education delivers swimming and water safety programs for all Western Australian young people aged 5 to 17 through both VacSwim and Interm swimming programs. Interm and VacSwim swimming programs have been in existence for over 100 years and are considered an integral part of Western Australian culture.

The newly established School of Swimming and Water Safety is one of several specialist schools within the Statewide Services division. The School is responsible for high-quality swimming and water safety education across Western Australia.

The School is based at the Statewide Services Centre in Padbury. The Associate Principal will, in conjunction with the Principal, work collaboratively with schools, parents, and the wider community to provide the services and support required to reinforce water safety skills as key elements of the Western Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum, ensuring vital swimming programs are delivered to 230,000 school students each year.

The new School, will:

• expand and sustain a high-quality swimming instructor workforce
• maximise access to swimming and water safety programs in regional areas
• enhance access to programs, with an emphasis on meeting the specific needs of equity cohorts
• strengthen connections to the Western Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

The Role

As part of the Executive Team, the Associate Principal will ideally provide leadership in the following key areas:

• Drawing on high-level management skills, you will promote the school’s vision and values to improve access to swimming and water safety programs.
• Contribute to and foster collaborative leadership in the development of key priority areas, with a strong focus on capability building.
• Innovate bold and creative solutions and respond effectively within short timelines, whilst working in a high-pressure environment, including preparing briefings and responding to Ministerial requests.

The successful applicant will ideally display highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, essential for building strong relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders. This includes working collaboratively with schools, swimming instructors, aquatic venues, and industry bodies to ensure the effective delivery of swimming and water safety programs. The role requires a proactive approach to networking and teamwork, fostering partnerships that enhance program accessibility and quality across Western Australia.

The Associate Principal will lead the development of a bespoke teaching and learning framework in the context of swimming to support and develop the capacity of the swimming instructor workforce across the state. You will also be responsible for aligning swimming and water safety education with the Health and Physical Education curriculum, including the development of classroom resources to support schools and establishing new partnerships and opportunities to create industry pathways for students.

Additionally, the Associate Principal will also ideally have an excellent understanding of Department of Education policies, issues and trends relating to disability. They will demonstrate knowledge and experience in applying evidence-based pedagogy and be able to operate within the Response to Intervention Model, to ensure positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Professional Benefits

Working for the Department of Education you will enjoy a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions. Find out more about the benefits by visiting professional and personal benefits.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Peter Lillywhite, Principal, on 0439 244 214 or emailing Peter.Lillywhite@education.wa.edu.au.

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• hold registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website or in the attached application package.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include:

• A CV of up to two (2) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to the role; and
• A four (4) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF

1. Demonstrated capacity to manage physical and financial resources and to contribute to the delivery of high quality services and initiatives in an educational environment.
2. Demonstrated considerable knowledge of Enrolment, Student Behaviour and Curriculum Assessment policies, and highly developed skills and experience in evidence based pedagogy, Response to Intervention Model, unified and responsive service, change management, staff development and school improvement initiatives related to disability education.
3. Demonstrated highly developed organisational, conceptual and analytical skills with capacity to apply complex concepts in support of service improvement and policy and program development.

All selection criteria will be assessed throughout the selection process.

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.

Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE1002469

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Wednesday, 19 November 2025