Position of Leadership, Leader of Diversity

Commencement Date: Monday 18th January 2025

Employment Type: Full Time, Fixed Term Leadership Position (3 years)

This position holds a substantive permanent teaching position within Catholic Education, Diocese of Cairns.

Salary Range: Graduate $84,077 to Proficient 8 $121,092 FTE Gross p.a + 5 PPoL Points ($15,810 p.a)   

Closing Date for Applications: 8am, 19th December 2024

St Therese's School, Bentley Park

St Therese's Parish School is an integral part of the Cairns Diocese and the Edmonton Parish. Located just 20 minutes south of Cairns City, St Therese's provides Catholic Education to an area that is currently referred to as the 'growth corridor' of Cairns.  The first Catholic school in Edmonton, Edmonton Convent School, was established by the Sisters of Mercy on the 29th April, 1929, with an enrolment of just 30 students. Its original location was on the Bruce Highway in the small township of Edmonton - an area that had been originally established as a sugar-milling town to serve the many surrounding sugarcane farms. Since those early days, the school has undergone many changes in its history and was renamed in 1965 to that of St Therese's School.  In 1995, the school was relocated to its current position where it has continued to grow in order to meet the growing enrolment numbers that have resulted from the development of residential areas south of the city. Today, it has an enrolment of approximately 620 students, Prep to Year 6. The school is proud of its rich historical story as well as the modern facilities that are now available to students, enabling a holisitic and quality educational learning environment. 2011 saw the completion of the school master plan following $5.5 million in combined capital projects undertaken as part of the Building the Education Revolution and planned facilities expansion.

About the Role

Student diversity is valued, and inclusive practices are fundamental to the ethos of Catholic schools.   The Leader of Diversity works with support from a broad range of stakeholders, to set the direction for interventions for students with diverse learning needs across all year levels ensuring every student’s opportunities for growth is maximised.   The Learning Diversity Leader will model and encourage exemplary practice, pedagogy and strategies in a contemporary curriculum designed to meet the academic needs of all students. The Leader of Diversity contributes to the quality of educational outcomes of the Catholic school by providing effective assistance to teachers in supporting students with diverse learning needs.

Typical duties performed may include, but are not limited to:

• Take the Lead: Setting the Vision and Direction In the Know and Leading Authentically

  • Facilitate change in inclusive practices to improve student learning outcomes, using evidence-based research in diversity, pedagogy and assessment
  • Provide guidance, support and mentoring to staff to help them develop their capacity to support students with diverse learning needs
  • Is a member of the School’s Diverse Learning Team, attending weekly meetings and contributing to the agenda, and working closely with other members of the Diverse Learners Team

• Think it Through: Logical Thinking & Conceptual Thinking

  • Promotes the philosophy of inclusive education in a supportive school environment
  • Demonstrates capacity to provide leadership characterised by lateral thinking, innovation and a willingness for ongoing improvement
  • Supervises school files and databases as per the school’s procedures so that accurate records and evidence of intervention, assessment and communication are recorded

• Work Together: Communication Working Systematically, Building Relationships

  • Demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate effectively and positively, ensuring productive interchange and professional conversation regarding student outcomes
  • Well-developed interpersonal skills including a demonstrated ability to work and communicate within a team environment
  • Openly listens to, understands others, and engages in effective dialogue in a way that promotes the philosophy of inclusive schooling in a supportive environment

• Focus on Improvement: Future Oriented & Taking Responsibility

  • As a member of the School’s Leadership Team
  • Fosters a culture of positive accountability between colleagues as part of everyday work
  • Meets with line manager in relation to strategic and operational improvement goals and future action
  • Develops effective professional and community networks in inclusive education to support students, parents, self and whole school staff

• Reflect and Grow: Developing Capacity, Faith Formation & Personal Mastery

  • Fosters the Catholic ethos, recognising that the role of all leaders in Catholic schools is to provide faith leadership
  • Builds capacity of teaching expertise and knowledge of effective, evidence-based teaching practices to improve student learning across the curriculum with a focus on literacy and numeracy
  • Inspires and strengthens the diversity team and teachers by guiding them in the development of evidence-based intervention strategies

Work Requirements

• Hold a Working with Children Blue Card
• Be fully supportive of the ethos of Catholic Education

What we offer

• Annual Leave with 17.5% leave loading
• Access to salary packaging options to maximise your salary 
• Access to additional Employer Superannuation Contributions
• Access to long service leave after 7 years of continuous service 
• 14 Weeks’ paid parental leave 
• Access to Employee Assistance Program

For further information about the role, please download the Position Description

Intending applicants must be fully committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation.

Catholic Education is an equal opportunity employer.

Position Description:   Position of Leadership - Leader of Diversity.pdf

Enquiries: 

Principal
Kathy Fleming
P:  07 4081 3400
E:  principal.bentleypk@cns.catholic.edu.au