Health & Physical Education / Outdoor Studies in Melbourne

Be prepared for a surprise when you tour our contemporary state-of-the-art facilities, over 16 hectares adorned with playing fields, outdoor amphitheatre and landscaped gardens. Our Science Centre captures the essence of the wetlands at our doorstep. Ashwood High School was recognised in 2025 as one of the Top 10 Government Schools in Victoria for VCE results where the median study score was 32. Ashwood High School is an aspirational co-educational secondary school providing an outstanding all-round educational experience, encouraging, inspiring and cultivating students to be positive contributors to our world.

Having served as an integral part of the community since 1962, Ashwood High School interweaves traditional values with a contemporary understanding of education. Our state-of-the-art facilities are situated on a 17 ha site with spacious, unparalleled grounds. A major building program is underway for the construction of a new Senior School STEAM and Research Centre. We develop critically aware, reflective, resilient, confident and independent learners for life. We are proud of our strong sense of community and provide a welcoming, safe, secure, and orderly learning environment.

The school has established the necessary preconditions: safety, high expectations, routines and authentic relationships to actualise an environment where students are afforded opportunities to celebrate success in all its forms. Our substantial awards and recognition program runs throughout the school with an emphasis on student voice and agency. We believe deep learning is facilitated by outstanding teaching. This occurs when all learners are actively engaged in a variety of differentiated and challenging learning tasks that are academically rigorous.

We value the whole person, and are committed to creating positive, adaptable and socially aware citizens of the world. Our students are provided with an outstanding array of extra-curricular activities to cultivate student talent across what we believe are the four elements of a GREAT school:

• Strong emphasis on Academic Excellence
• Sporting Excellence program
• Significant commitment to the Creative Arts
• Focus on Civics, Citizenship and Leadership

As members of the Ashwood High School community, staff and student behaviours are informed by our School Vision and Motto: Vision Inspired Action and guided by our school CHOIR values:

• Community of learning and trust
• High Expectations – Aspire to your personal best
• Optimism, reflection and resilience
• Innovation, creativity and sustainability
• Respect for teachers, students, school and self-respect

Our school’s motto, Vision Inspired Action, is reflected in the behaviours and actions of staff, students, parents and partners. Together, we are committed to creating and sustaining a proud school culture of empowerment and excellence based on mutual respect. Deep learning is facilitated through outstanding teaching that is strengthened by supportive and authentic relationships. The Ashwood High School community is proud of our students’ achievements, contributions to the community, conduct, personal presentation, courtesy and manners.

We encourage our students to develop responsibility for their own learning, progress and behaviour. We foster collaboration and cooperation with shared expectations of success. Ashwood High School is committed to providing innovative teaching and learning strategies. We are dedicated to establishing supportive and authentic relationships to ensure our students enjoy learning and achieve their full potential.

Our school is committed to realising student wellbeing, engagement and achievement through focused effort on four priorities for continuous school improvement:

• Growing pride and achievement
• Valuing staff and building capacity
• Increasing positive parental and community engagement

Over the past few years, Ashwood High School has undergone significant transformation and is experiencing the highest demand for enrolment in the history of the school. This growth has led to the creation and implementation of two mini schools in 2021: Middle School (Years 7-9) and Senior School (Years 10-12). This structure enables the ages and stages of learning to be fostered, developed and celebrated. High expectations characterise the actions of students, staff and parents.

Selection Criteria:

• SC1: Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.
• SC2: Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
• SC3: Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
• SC4: Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
• SC5: Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
• SC6: Demonstrated capacity to address cross-curriculum priorities with a diverse range of learners.

Role:

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges - range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.

Responsibilities:

• Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;
• Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;
• Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;
• Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;
• Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Who May Apply:

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

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, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

Conditions of Employment:

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.

Qualification Requirements:

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class, the person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.