Student Support Officer

This is a 12 month fixed term, full-time position commencing Term 3, 2026 with possible extension and/or permanency

The Role

The role of the Student Support Officer is considered essential to ensuring a responsive and effective student support service. As a result, your communication skills and ability to be an effective team player will be highly regarded. You would be part of a cohesive team that provides a responsive social and emotional curriculum where you will contribute to the development of student support strategies and student support programs. Student Support Officers may also be involved in transporting students.

School staff benefit from working in a collaborative team environment, sharing common goals and resources in supporting students, schools and parents. Applicants that have skills in maintaining professional boundaries while adopting a student centric approach that aids in contributing to positive student outcomes will be highly regarded. In addition, under direction the Student Support Officer provides support in therapeutic crisis management and the development of personalised student de-escalation strategies.

The successful applicant will work as part of a SALS team located at Karratha. The setting comprises of a Program Coordinator, a team of teachers with support from a Student Support Officer, a Youth Transition Officer and a School Psychologist. The successful applicant will ideally have experience and credibility in student engagement and transitions, case management, social and emotional learning program development, a background in student support and current professional learning, or the capacity to undertake targeted professional learning, in areas such as de-escalation, team teach, circle of courage, therapeutic crisis intervention in schools and trauma-informed practice.

The successful applicant may be required to travel to Perth, or other SALS locations to attend professional learning and staff development days and inductions, this may include overnight stays and air travel. This role may require suitable applicants to hold and maintain a valid WA driver’s license.

School of Alternative Learning Settings

The SALS program was originally established in early 2019 to target a specific cohort of students who present with complex and challenging behaviour and would benefit from a short-term, intensive intervention program. At the commencement of the 2022 academic year the program was consolidated as a stand-alone school. SALS delivers specialised activities and learning programs that build students’ social skills and self-regulation in environments designed to effect positive and lasting change in their behaviour. The program has the capacity to provide access to specialists such as paediatricians, clinical psychologists, or consultation with psychiatrists.

There are 13 SALS sites located in the metropolitan and regional education regions of Western Australia (one of which is our SALS Administration located in Padbury). Students are provided with an intensive, individualised program of support while they continue their education. There is a strong focus on developing students’ social skills and ability to self-regulate. Learning and engagement is flexible, co-designed with students, culturally responsive and supports self-determination and interpersonal connection.

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

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 Andrew Button, Principal on 0409 086 668 or Andrew.button@education.wa.edu.au

Eligibility

• 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.

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; and
• A two (2) page statement addressing the two selection criteria as outlined below -

4. Demonstrated skills and experience in working with individual or small groups of students experiencing difficulties.

5. Demonstrated knowledge of the youth sector, particularly local organisations and services.