The Diocese of Wagga Wagga is in rural NSW, located in the Riverina and south western district of New South Wales. The Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers are significant geographical features of our area – the diocese – and on our eastern border lie the mountainous regions of the Great Dividing Range. The area has large and small towns and some of Australia’s richest and most picturesque countryside.
The Diocese of Wagga Wagga has a rich faith tradition; our faith communities are nourished and sustained by the sacramental life of the church administered and accessed through 31 parishes.
The Catholic Schools Office
The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) is accountable to the Apostolic Administrator and is led by the Director of Schools. There are 26 primary schools and 5 secondary schools that educate in excess of 8,500 students through the dedication and work of approximately 1,000 staff.
St Patrick’s Primary School, Griffith
Saint Patrick’s School is located in the rural Riverina city of Griffith. Griffith is part of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The school can be found adjacent to the Sacred Heart Church, has modern facilities and large playing areas for our students. We have students from Kindergarten to Year 6 with three classes at each year level.
Saint Patrick’s first opened in 1921 with 80 students. We have been served over the years by the Sisters of Mercy and the Marist Brothers.
St Patrick’s School is part of the Sacred Heart Parish. We are a welcoming community which provides a safe and secure environment, within which our students receive high quality education in all Key Learning Areas. Our staff are fully committed to their vocation as Christian educators.
Saint Patrick’s is a systemic Catholic School which operates under the guidelines and policies of the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Wagga Wagga. The Catholic Schools Office in Wagga directly assists us with many aspects of school life.
Educational Priorities
- Continuing to provide strong Pastoral Care for all members of our community.
- To continue to improve student achievement in all areas of contemporary learning.
- Continue providing for collegial planning and collaborative practices.
- Building on our whole school improvement framework.
- Continue to inspire learning through our Catholic Faith
- 21st Century learning – Information and Communication Technology.
School Priorities
- Embed purposeful pedagogy and build teacher capacity to improve student learning outcomes.
- Further develop elements of a professional learning community.
- Use the Inquiry for Continual Improvement process to improve student learning in all KLA’s.
- Target professional learning to suit the needs of teachers and students
August 2017 Census: 435 students
Appeal of Living in Rural NSW
If you are from a metropolitan/coastal city, and have not experienced life in rural areas, there are three key aspects for you to explore and consider:
- How would your financial position alter if you accepted a senior role in rural NSW?
- How will your home life benefit by experiencing the sense of community rural living provides?
- How will your career thrive because of the leadership experiences a senior appointment would provide?
Further Information
School Web address:
http://web.spgww.catholic.edu.au/
Vision and Mission statement can be found at:
http://web.spgww.catholic.edu.au/documents/missionandvision.pdf
Information on the Griffith area is found at:
http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/visit/home.asp
Position Overview
Position Title: Assistant Principal
Reports to: Principal
Background Information
Catholic schools are established by the Bishop in the context of local faith communities, to educate and form young people in the faith tradition, offering them experiences of following Jesus in the Catholic community. Catholic schools participate in the church’s mission to educate students in discipleship within the Catholic tradition in a quality learning environment.
The Assistant Principal exercises a unique professional relationship of support and loyalty to the leadership of the Principal and contributes in a way which shapes and implements the schools’ vision that reflects the Catholic character of the school. The Assistant Principal assists the Principal as a team and as a unit in providing quality Catholic Education for students in their care. This responsibility is delegated to the Assistant Principal by the Director of Schools through the Principal. Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school’s education program and is directly responsible for the performance of their duties to the Principal.
The Assistant Principal is directly responsible to the Principal for the performance of his/her duties and deputises in the absence of the Principal. The Assistant Principal works closely with the Principal to gain an understanding of the complex nature of school leadership and to further enhance their professional learning. The Assistant Principal contributes to the collaborative decision-making processes and leads in the planning, implementation and evaluation of school goals. Their role in their instructional and organizational tasks, assisting in the development and implementation of school policy, enhances achievement of the mission of the Catholic School.
The Assistant Principal is an exemplary teacher who provides an excellent role model for other teachers in their understanding of quality teaching and learning that is holistic and informed by a distinctive Catholic world-view.
It is expected that the specific responsibilities of the role are negotiated annually by the Principal and the Assistant Principal and take into account factors such as:
- the school’s Vision and Mission Statement, Strategic Renewal Plan, identified development plans and goals.
- Catholic Schools Office priorities, initiatives and requirements;
- the particular talents, strengths and experience of the members of the Executive Team (Principal, Assistant Principal, Religious Education Co-ordinator and Primary Co-ordinator);
- the developmental needs of the Assistant Principal;
- teaching load/administrative allocation;
- time available.
The role description for an Assistant Principal is drawn from six key accountabilities for leadership:
- Religious Leadership
- Strategic Leadership
- Educational Leadership
- Human Resources Leadership
- Organisational Leadership
- Community Leadership
A full position description will be provided as we step through this process.
Commencement
It is anticipated the successful applicant will be able to commence in this role for the start of the 2018 school year.
Conditions of Employment
- Salary: According to the NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2015 plus an allowance of $29,235.00 per annum
- Superannuation of 9.5% paid in addition to the above salary.
- Salary Packaging: employees may elect to take their remuneration as a combination of cash salary and benefits as outlined in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga Salary Packaging Employee Information Guide.
- Relocation allowance will be provided (if required) for the successful applicant.
- Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga
- The successful applicant will undertake a Working with Children Check or provide their number for verification, and a National Police Checking Service (Crimtrac) prior to appointment
Selection Criteria
We invite expressions of interest from people able to demonstrate:
- A commitment to the Catholic Faith;
- Education Leadership in a primary school;
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team situation;
- Vision and management of the strategic improvement of the school;
- Highly effective skills in organisational leadership;
- An affinity for rural & regional areas;
- Accreditation to teach Religious Education and have completed a minimum of four units of study at a postgraduate level in Religious Education, or Theology, or specific Catholic Leadership.
Are You Interested in this Opportunity?
If you are interested in this role, then simply complete the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this page; or email us at jobs@traksearch.com stating your interest and nominating ref number TS1367. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number.
We do NOT ask you to address the selection criteria or compile any application document – just complete the panel on this page or send a brief email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘St Patrick’s Assistant Principal TS1367’ and providing your brief resume and contact telephone number.
Any questions can be directed to either (a) our Director John Chesher by telephone (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via jobs@traksearch.com.
The timeline and details for this project are outlined below. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.
The Selection Process
Key dates are as follows:
Date of project launch/advertising | Fri 15th/Sat 16th Sept |
Trak Search discussions commence | From w/c Mon 25 Sept |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Wed 4th Oct |
Initial reference checks by Trak Search | From w/c Mon 9 Oct |
Review meeting & shortlisting | Week of 23rd Oct |
Anticipated date for client interviews | Week of 30th Oct or 6th Nov |
Final references; academic documents obtained | After interviews |
Follow up meeting/discussion | Within 7 days |
Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:
- Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in this role.
- A range of additional information will be provided as you progress through the process.
- You are NOT required to: complete an application form; provide a lengthy, comprehensive document to address the selection criteria; or provide any referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
- A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
- At the appropriate time (refer above) we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent.
- We expect to contact one work related referee and a Priest referee prior to shortlisting, with additional references completed later in the process. You should always expect that prior to reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant time period.
All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to shortlisting, in confidence, to the Principal or nominee unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.
You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.