Department of Education - Victoria

Location Profile  

Are you seeking a vibrant teaching environment that is more than just a workplace? We are seeking passionate teachers to join our esteemed team for the 2025 school year and beyond. Western Port Secondary College is conveniently located at 215 High Street, Hastings. Getting here is a breeze: just a 15-minute drive from Pearcedale, Somerville, and Tyabb, a 20-minute commute down the Western Port highway from Cranbourne, or Langwarrin. Peninsula link (toll free) makes the commute from Frankston and surrounding suburbs of Seaford, Carrum and Patterson Lakes a smooth 25-minute drive making your way to Western Port Secondary College is a stress-free journey each day!

Imagine joining a school where the Principal, Leaders and staff are deeply involved in daily life, actively supporting each other to foster an environment that reflects our Western Port Way. Are you seeking a school with an amazing staff who collectively support and build each other up, and who truly get along and enjoy working together, making the workplace one where no one wants to leave? With a hands-on approach, you'll find the Principal Class actively engaged in the college community, visible daily at the school gate, in and around classrooms, on yard duty, supporting School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) processes and interacting with the students. With an open-door policy, they warmly welcome any staff member seeking support or a conversation, or any student seeking advice or counsel. They wholeheartedly foster a collaborative environment, where every teacher's voice is not only heard but also valued.

Are you looking for a school who has high standards where students are respectful and well behaved, displaying positive attitudes and a strong eagerness to learn. Our college ensures from the moment students walk in they are one time, ready to learn and equipped to enthusiastically engage in a harmonious and productive classroom atmosphere, where both teaching and learning are highly effective and enjoyable. This positive environment fosters academic and personal growth, making our college a wonderful place to work and learn. For times when our students are not ready to learn or exhibiting behaviours that are not reflective of our college values of Community, Achievement, Respect and Engagement (CARE) we have arguably the most effective and well-resourced support system in the network. We have a strong SWPBS model that is resourced with a full time Rover (youth worker or teacher) who monitors a live call-out system through Compass when teachers need support in their classroom. The average wait time for support to reach a classroom is 2 mins, where the Rover works with the teacher to either rectify the situation or remove the student if necessary. Students removed attend a supervised space staffed by Leaders and the Principal Team who follow up and deal with student issues while attempting to return them to their learning program the following period where possible. Click on this SWPBS link for further information and to view videos of these processes in action.

In line with our supportive and well-resourced school, our college has experienced significant growth. By 2025, we anticipate our student enrolment numbers to range between 700 and 800 students, making us a beautifully sized secondary college. Big enough to offer the full suite of VCE subjects, but small enough to know every student by name and build relationships with families. Year 7 enrolments have doubled in recent years, as we have become the school of choice in our community and a place where students love to learn, and staff love to teach.

This opportunity to join our college is perfectly timed for aspirant leaders, with the full School Improvement Team (SIT) positions ending their tenure at the end of 2025. Aspirant or experienced leaders wanting to join a tremendous team and who are looking for teachers with similar values: collaborative, trusting, hard-working, dedicated, committed, flexible in their thinking, open, and most importantly, a willingness to make the workplace enjoyable! Our staff bring together a mixture of skills and expertise, but all demonstrate these values and work together to support one another. Our staff take immense pride in this welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable atmosphere, where we all work harmoniously towards our common goals.

At Western Port Secondary College, we strongly encourage and model work/life balance. School starts at 8:30 am and concludes at 3:00 pm. This means that on a meeting night, staff are leaving at 4:30 pm or on a non-meeting night, 3:30 pm. We aim to promote a focus on other important things, like self and family.

Our meetings are set around school priorities, with Curriculum and Instructional Practice the focus, and not deviated from, to allow staff to maximise their time and undertake collaborative work and learning together. Year Level team time and staff wellbeing are also priorities within our term planners.

We have brand-new, modern facilities, including a 12 million dollar architecturally designed Senior and Junior Hub and dedicated Wellbeing Wing, domestic and industrial kitchens, science labs, visual arts, and performing arts spaces, a gymnasium as well as expansive, manicured grounds. We sit on over 7 hectares with loads of space for students to enjoy with 3 ovals, outdoor courts and an amazing new Dream Court space for Ready to Learn plans and lunchtime recreation.

Now you could read this, think that this college is desperate for teachers and will write anything to attract staff, or you could listen to what the staff have said about our college.

So, what about our student attitudes towards school? Just have a look how they view our school and their experiences.

If you have doubts about the Staff Opinion Survey or Student Attitudes to School survey results, we encourage you look over our social media profile and read through the comments from staff members and our families or reach out and speak to any staff at the college. You can find us at http://facebook.com/westernportSC

So, who can apply? We value the skills and experiences of teachers with both Primary and Secondary qualifications! If you're a current teacher, working in a government or non-government school, a fresh graduate, Permission to Teach (PTT) or just starting out in the teaching world, we want to hear from you. The school supports teachers returning from family leave and accommodates part time needs well. It's all about the person and the unique qualities they bring to add to the Western Port Way.

If after reading our profile, if you are at all interested in this exceptional opportunity, we urge you to reach out to our Principal, Chris Quinn. His profound passion for showcasing our school extends to providing an immersive firsthand experience of what it truly means to work at Western Port Secondary College. Scheduled tours are highly recommended for prospective candidates which will be facilitated by Chris or a member of his Principal Team. Please ensure you reach out to Chris via email at christopher.quinn@education.vic.gov.au to arrange a school tour.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Program Benefits 

This position attracts an incentive payment of $5,650 (pre-tax) for the successful candidate who meets the eligibility criteria set out under conditions of employment.

Conditions of Employment 

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. 

The appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. 

A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. 

Eligibility for incentive payments: 

• The successful candidate is committing to a minimum of 1 year employment at this school. 
• The successful candidate will not be a Graduate Teacher Incentive recipient from a previous vacancy. 
• The successful candidate must not be employed as a teacher by the Department at the time the advertised position is to commence. 

EEO AND OHS Commitment 

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via marrung@education.vic.gov.au