Education Assistant - Special Needs

Education Assistant - Special Needs

Branch: South Bunbury Education Support Centre

Division: Southwest Education Region

Salary: Level 3, $37.78 - $39.37 per hour (EA (Gov) GA 2025)

Work Type: Fixed Term - Full Time, Fixed Term - Part Time, Permanent - Full Time, Permanent - Part Time

FTE: 0.1-1.0

Location: South Bunbury

Closing Date: 2025-10-31 4:30 PM

We are seeking to establish a pool of Special Needs Education Assistants for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise during the 2026 school year. Appointments may be offered at any time for vacancies that commence during this period.

South Bunbury Education Support Centre (ESC) is a specialist setting which caters to the needs of students with diagnosis of high need Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability. With a steady student population of approximately 70 students, the school offers individual support and attention in all areas of student development.

Our school motto, “Learn, Grow, Belong” is an important foundation of everything we do at South Bunbury ESC. Our aim is to support each student to learn and grow to their full potential in their academic, physical, and social development, in order to have active, positive participation in their community in the future.

South Bunbury ESC is a proud School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) school, with strong philosophy around teaching and reinforcing expected behaviours, and supporting students to be their best. Our Education Assistants are a vital part of the team, delivering programs and interventions in the areas of academics, social emotional learning, and functioning living skills. Within small group settings, each student has an Individualised Education Program, which caters specifically to the needs of the individual child. The program is clearly linked with Western Australian Curriculum and ABLEWA. South Bunbury ESC keeps abreast of evidence-based strategies and programs, and utilises a range of these to deliver exemplary programs targeted at students achieving their potential.

We care about our students and each other and are committed to providing the supports necessary for students to achieve their individual goals. Our school environment can be extremely challenging, both physically and emotionally. It is important to have strong self-care strategies and excellent emotional intelligence. Education Assistants who work at South Bunbury ESC need to be able to work flexibly, think on their feet, and work well as part of a team.

Find out more about our school by visiting southbunburyesc.wa.edu.au or Schools Online.

The Role

As a Special Needs Education Assistant, you will, under teacher direction, assist in the implementation of specialised education programs such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and/or other therapies as required. You will assist the teacher in the delivery of planned education programs, including the operation of computers and digital technologies, and implement individual student or small group programs or demonstrations. When required, you will provide feedback on education and therapy programs and participate in the evaluation process relating to the achievement of goals in special education. You will ideally have the ability to cope well with frequent unpredictability as our students have a range of special needs and we cannot expect them to follow an exact pattern every day. Their needs are widely varied and, as such, our approach and thinking must be too.

We deliver a range of programs, applicants will ideally have professional knowledge and expertise in the delivery of our current whole school approaches. Knowledge of TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children), Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Team Teach, Trauma Informed Practice and Promoting Literacy Development (PLD) programs will be highly regarded.

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 Ross Davidson, Principal on (08) 9796 4650 or emailing ross.davidson2@education.wa.edu.au.

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.
• 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.

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 three (3) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
• A three (3) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF
  1. Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills, including report writing and the ability to effectively interact with students with special needs, and liaise with parents, teachers and community members and assist teachers in understanding students where necessary.
  2. Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills with the ability to contribute to a professional team and provide advice and evaluation in the development of the education program, including special education and therapy programs where they have been implemented.
  3. Demonstrated ability to assist professionals in the implementation and evaluation of education programs, including special education and, if required, occupational and/or physiotherapy programs.
  4. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of health and physical disabilities in students and adolescents.
  5. Demonstrated effective organisational skills that will assist in the delivery of effective education programs and subsequent feedback and evaluation to teachers or psychologists.
  6. Demonstrated ability to assist with the general health and well being of students.

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: SS/SS999992

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

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Friday, 31 October 2025