Introduction to the Diocese of Wagga Wagga
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.
Our Bishop is Gerard Hanna.
St Francis De Sales Regional College, Leeton
St Francis De Sales Regional College is a Catholic Co-educational Day and Weekly Boarding School providing a comprehensive education across Years 7-12, for students from Leeton, Narrandera and surrounding rural areas in the Riverina.
The purpose of the College is to contribute to the Church’s Mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to offer to the Catholic Community and others within our Region an educational foundation for life – meaning development towards the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and moral growth of the students.
February 2016 Census: 724, with 209 of these Weekly Boarding students
Educational priorities for 2016
- Continuing to provide strong Pastoral and Academic 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 develop balanced student assessment practices (formative and summative processes)
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 spiral to improve student achievement in writing.
- Target professional learning to suit the needs of teachers and students
- Strengthen Catholic identity and empower teachers in classroom practice of Religious Education.
- Continue to bridge the gap between day and boarding school.
The College is supported by the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) which is accountable to the Bishop and is led by the Director of Schools, Mr Alan Bowyer. There are 27 primary schools and 5 secondary schools that educate in excess of 8,500 students through the dedication and work of approximately 1,000 staff.
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
Bishop Hanna’s Mandate available on webpage at http://bit.ly/1H2Mq3Q
CSO Strategic Plan available on webpage at http://bit.ly/1JT0sZs
Building on Strengths available on webpage at http://bit.ly/1zPS2yF
A Framework for Learning available on webpage at http://bit.ly/1EfEIQF
Accreditation to Work, Teach & Lead in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga
Available on webpage at http://bit.ly/1GSrJEY
St Francis De Sales Regional College website located at http://web.sfcww.catholic.edu.au/
Information on the Leeton area can be found at:
http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/wagga-wagga-and-riverina/leeton/attractions
Position Overview
Position Title: Principal
Reports to: Secondary Schools Consultant
Principal’s Responsibilities
The Principal is responsible for the overall functioning of the School. The living of a life of faith is important for the Principal, and the development of the faith dimension of the School must necessarily be a high priority in the leadership role of the Principal. The role of leadership is far-reaching and includes responsibility for the total development of the School.
The Principal has ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day effective management and efficient operation of the Day School and Boarding School. The Principal is responsible for ensuring all legislative compliances are met and proper duty of care is maintained at all times. The Principal fosters and is concerned for professional competence amongst staff and ensures that the School provides for all students quality academic education appropriate to their needs and a strong Pastoral Care Program. All this is to be provided within an environment which is warm, caring and supportive of the growth of the students and staff of the School.
Religious Leadership: Religious leadership facilitates spiritual formation through a dynamic process of growth in the understanding and practice of Christian faith and spirituality. This is expressed in dedicated structures, specific programs, communal support and resources.
Educative leadership: Utilises a developmental approach to link the development of effective learning and teaching with contemporary curriculum to provide high quality student learning.
Staff Leadership: Staff leadership meaningfully integrates the personal and professional experiences of staff through distributive leadership, mutual accountability, inclusive processes and planned professional learning.
Strategic Leadership: Strategic leadership is directed towards the development, alignment, attainment and review of the vision, mission and the strategic goals for the school as set out in the school’s improvement plan.
Organisational Leadership: Organisational leadership focuses on the development, support, monitoring and evaluation of operational processes.
Reason for Vacancy
After 12 years as principal of the College, Mrs Brenda King has been appointed to a leadership role with the Catholic Schools Office.
Commencement
It is anticipated that successful applicant will be able to commence for the start of the 2017 school year.
Location
St Francis de Sales Regional College is located in Yanco Ave, Leeton NSW.
Conditions of Employment
- Salary and Conditions will be discussed as we progress through this recruitment project. Incentives negotiable.
- A school-provided motor vehicle
- The CSO is open to negotiating the term of this appointment as well as the support provided to assist the new Principal
- 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.
- Applicants who are successful in gaining an interview will receive an interview travel allowance. Relocation allowance will be provided for the successful applicant.
- The successful applicant will undertake a New 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 with leadership experience in Catholic secondary schools/Educations Offices who are able to demonstrate:
- An appreciation of and active commitment to Catholic life and practice
- Innovation in leading contemporary learning initiatives
- Ongoing development and integration of learning related to Religious Education, Theology, Scripture, Leadership and Curriculum
- An affinity for rural & regional areas
- The willingness and desire to learn of the richness of a school setting with Boarding students
- 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, there are two options for you to proceed:
- If interested, but have questions requiring a response before deciding whether to progress, then either (a) telephone our Director John Chesher (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website with your questions.
- If and when you have enough information to start this process, then simply email us at mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website stating your interest in this role and nominating ref number TS1334; also providing a contact telephone number.
At this stage we do NOT ask for you to labour over selection criteria, provide a resume or any application document – just a one-line email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘St Francis De Sales Principal TS1334’ and providing your contact telephone number. 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 3rd/Sat 4th June |
Trak Search discussions commence | From Mon 13th June |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Wed 22nd June |
Initial reference checks by Trak Search | From week commencing Mon 27th June |
CSO review meeting & short listing | Friday 1st July |
Anticipated date for client interviews | Week of Monday 25th July |
Final references; academic documents obtained | Following client interviews |
Follow up meeting/discussion | Likely within 7 days of client interviews |
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 resume or 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 prior to short listing, with additional references (including with a Priest referee) 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 CSO Executive 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.