Director Continuous Learning (Post Schools Program) – Mater Dei, Camden, NSW

View The Above Video to Get an Understanding of Mater Dei, then Read this Information and Use Your Imagination to Glimpse What the Future Might Be.

An Introduction to Mater Dei

Based in the Macarthur and established as a special school in 1957, Mater Dei is an organisation that provides early intervention therapy services and education for children of pre-school age with an intellectual disability, developmental delay, ASD diagnosis and other syndromes. Additionally, a K-12 school program following the NESA curriculum is offered to students with a cognitive assessment of an intellectual disability in the mild to moderate range as the primary disability.

The underpinning philosophy of all that we do at Mater Dei is to facilitate inclusion into the wider community. We do this to dignify the giftedness of our children and young people and to build better communities.

Mater Dei School is a Catholic, Congregational school located in the Wollongong Diocese and is a proud member of the ten Colleges who together comprise Good Samaritan Education.  Our work is focused on providing opportunities and experiences that will help our students develop the skills and confidence to be fully participating members of their community.

Vision Statement

The vision of Mater Dei School is to create a family centred school that focuses on the education of students with mild to moderate intellectual disability, to maximize their potential for participation in their communities.

School Profile

Mater Dei is a Catholic co-educational school of between 140-150 students that offers programs of study for students ranging from pre school age through to 18 years. Programs offered include an early intervention therapy and educational program; a primary program; a junior secondary program; and a senior secondary program.

Throughout their secondary schooling, students have the opportunity to attain the Higher School Certificate (Life Skills), engage in the Mater Dei Structured Work Placement Program and participate in a range of inclusion opportunities with colleague primary and secondary schools as well as in the general Macarthur community.

Mater Dei School provides a contemporary, innovative and world class education to students with high support needs in a nurturing and secure environment, aimed at developing the skills and competencies that will allow our students to take their rightful place in their communities.

The Future?

Mater Dei provides learning opportunities and support for students from pre-school age through to age 18 years. The Board now seeks to extend those opportunities to young adults of post compulsory school age. Our intention is to develop a contemporary and innovative post compulsory school program that combines meaningful engagement of young adults with continued learning and specific skill development.

Position Overview

Position Title:     Director of Continuous Learning (Post School Programs)
Reports to:           CEO/Principal

Context of the Role

Within the context of the Mater Dei Vision and Mission statement as well as the delegation framework provided by the CEO/Principal, this newly created role will have a ‘blue sky brief’ to develop and deliver post compulsory school learning programs for young adults with an intellectual disability.

These programs will provide a seamless transition from the existing work of Mater Dei and other compulsory school settings and thereby offer young adults with intellectual disability opportunities for continuous learning.

Framework

The post-school program will:

• provide opportunities for ongoing learning that has as its focus:
  • building capacity (literacy, numeracy, technology) to better facilitate access to and engagement with the workforce and social communities young adults enter post Mater Dei.
  • complementary skill development in dimensions such as  communication, social, ‘living’/functional, mobility/travel, problem solving, ‘crisis management’, leisure, goal setting, personal safety, self-advocacy, self-determination.
• be underpinned by/aligned with research that facilitates an authentic claim to be a centre of excellence. The intent of this aspiration is:
  • to facilitate confidence/surety in the efficacy of the program to respond to an identified need in a way that is informed by research as well as evidence based best practice.
  • to take advantage of the ‘economies of scale’ that exists at Mater Dei e.g.  Skill set, resources, space, experience, existing partnerships
  • to ‘share’ the story with other service providers and colleagues and therefore expand the opportunities available to young adults with a disability post school.
  • to provide a site for ongoing research and development.  e.g. undergraduate training, post graduate research, Masters and PhD.
  • to enhance capacity to expand sources of funding partnerships.  e.g. Government, private enterprise, benefactors.

Commencement

The start date for this newly created role is negotiable, although, ideally, it would be in June 2017 to support a timeline whereby the first elements of the program can be offered at the start of 2018.

Location

Mater Dei is located at 229 Macquarie Grove Road, Camden NSW

Conditions of Employment

• Remuneration consists of salary and superannuation and will be discussed with the successful person
• Consistent with other senior roles, a contract term of 5 years will be offered. This will be renewed subject to an appraisal in the 4th year.
• Four weeks of annual leave
• Salary adjustments occur annually
• Relocation support is available if required
• In accordance with Child Protection legislation, all people seeking child-related employment are required to complete a ‘Working with Children Check’ clearance prior to employment. Please go to www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au for further information.

Selection Criteria

We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following criteria:

• The ability to commit to the mission & values of Mater Dei, demonstrating empathy with and an understanding of people with a disability
• Capacity to adapt, learn & thrive in an ever-changing, complex and ambiguous setting
• Imagination & creativity and can demonstrate the drive to bring a project to life
• Leadership skills, having managed people, projects and stakeholders at strategic and hands-on levels.

While people with experience within the disability sector are encouraged to apply, given the unlimited scope of this opportunity Mater Dei is prepared to look ‘outside the square’.

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 TS1349. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number.

At this stage we do NOT ask for you to labour over selection criteria or any application document – just complete the panel on this page or send a one-line email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘Mater Dei Director TS1349’ 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:

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 the role.
• A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
• At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form; provide a lengthy, comprehensive document to address the selection criteria; or 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 prior to short listing, 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 short listing, in confidence, to the CEO/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.