Occupational Therapist in Melbourne

Dallas Brooks Community Primary School is a place that encourages and enables professional learning, effective teamwork and inclusiveness within purpose-designed facilities reflecting a 21st-century educational approach to teaching and learning, including the provision of open flexible learning areas. The K-6 learning environment emphasizes the acquisition of literacy and numeracy skills within an orderly and technology-rich environment. Sporting excellence, the Performing Arts and community partnerships have a strong focus within our new school with extensive programs catering for preschool education through to adult education.

The school operates onsite 3-year-old and 4-year-old Kindergarten Programs and Playgroups for children up to 3 years of age. The Community Hub enables families to be connected to playgroups, adult education and working in partnership with the Wellbeing team at the school. The school community represents a diverse range of socio-economic, cultural, religious and language backgrounds. Our families value education and our students have a positive attitude towards school and learning.

School Vision: For all students to be literate, numerate, creative, safe and happy.

eLearning Vision: To actively engage the school learning community in authentic learning projects to develop responsible global citizens.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated capacity to deliver a variety of occupational therapy interventions with children from Year foundation to 6, with a wide range of additional needs, backgrounds and experiences.
• Demonstrated capacity to work within a collaborative professional team.
• Demonstrated ability to use initiative, prioritisation and reflective practice to strategically plan and manage caseload.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively with a range of professionals, teachers and parents on service delivery and student-based issues.
• A commitment to professional learning and growth, including the delivery of professional development to others.
• Demonstrated ability to assess students' functional needs and develop and implement individualised strategies that support student participation, independence, engagement and inclusion within the school environment.

Responsibilities

• Therapeutic Assessment and Planning: Conduct assessments of student's sensory, motor, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning to inform individualised planning. Identify and assess environmental factors impacting student participation and make evidence-based recommendations for modifications.
• Intervention Delivery: Develop, deliver, and evaluate individual and small group therapy programs to enhance student participation, engagement, and independence in learning. Support the implementation of occupational therapy strategies within Inclusion Programs and in an Outreach capacity, through collaboration with Leadership and Teaching staff.
• Capacity Building and Professional Learning: Provide professional development to teachers, education support staff, and leadership on topics including sensory regulation, motor skill development, and inclusive classroom strategies. Mentor and model best practice approaches in Inclusive programs and in an Outreach capacity, supporting staff to apply therapy strategies in everyday practice.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to align therapy goals with student learning goals and Inclusion program priorities. Liaise with parents, external professionals, and community agencies to coordinate care and support transitions.
• Leadership and Whole School Contribution: Contribute to the development of school-wide policies, programs, and practices that support the inclusion of students with disability. Engage with other therapists and the leadership team to drive continuous improvement in inclusive practice and student outcomes.
• Operational and Administrative Duties: Maintain accurate records and provide timely, high-quality reports in line with professional standards.

Diversity and Inclusion: The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.

Child Safe Standards: Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment.