A True Education
Wesley College Melbourne, a school of the Uniting Church, established in 1866, is one of Australia’s leading and most respected co-educational independent schools. With an enrolment of 3,400 students from ECLC to Year 12, it comprises three metropolitan campuses in Melbourne, at St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley and Elsternwick, outdoor education sites at Chum Creek, Mallana and Lochend, and Year 9 residential campus at Clunes.
Nature of the Role
The Outdoor Education Instructor is a College position, and one position exists for each of the College’s campsites. The Outdoor Education Instructor’s role is one which requires initiative, energy, enthusiasm and the ability to work with, and alongside, other dedicated teachers and has a desire to inspire, engage and encourage young people.
The Outdoor Education Instructor is required to assist Head of Program and Outdoor Education Teachers in all outdoor education activities associated with the annual camp for each home room group and to manage the operation of the campsite. The Outdoor Education Program aims to link students to the natural world, through:
- The use of vivid landscapes.
- Teaching basic outdoor skills.
- Encouraging environmental awareness and action.
Main Responsibilities and Accountabilities
The Outdoor Education Instructor is responsible for:
- To assist the Head of Program and Teacher to impart a high-quality programme for the students in the camp.
- Providing support concerning the outdoor education programme for the staff and students attending the camp.
- Instruction of outdoor pursuits according to accepted procedures that ensure a safe programme of educational activities.
- Ensuring safety procedures and contingency plans are being followed in the event of accidents and emergencies.
- Supervising meal preparation and clean up after meals with students.
- Night supervision of students in conjunction with visiting teachers and trainees.
- Assisting with the implementation of the College’s outdoor education policies.
- Maintaining the plant, equipment, and vehicles belonging to the camp in a safe working condition and ensure that plant, equipment, and vehicles are used in a safe and responsible manner.
- Identifying the day-to-day camp cleaning duties and maintenance needs for buildings, plant, equipment, services, facilities, and vehicles and to inform the College’s Maintenance Manager of any needs.
- Ensuring that the camp and its equipment is maintained in a safe and secure manner.
- Overseeing the instruction in and practice of outdoor educational activities of the highest standards of safety and care.
- Any other duties as reasonably required
Child Safety
Wesley College is committed to being a child safe environment, and we actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students. All College staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment in accordance with their legal obligations, including child safe standards. The Wesley College Child Safety Program, including the Child Safe Policy and the Child Safe Code of Conduct is available via the Staff Intranet. The following responsibilities are expected of all roles within the College;
All staff are expected to;
- Complete mandatory annual Child Safety training in accordance with directions from the College.
- Be familiar with the content of the College’s Child SafetyProgram , including the Child Safe Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct and with their legal obligations with respect to the reporting of child abuse.
- Be responsible for understanding and applying the College’s child safety policies and procedures, including identifying and addressing risks, identifying child abuse indicators, management of disclosures, and internal and external reporting obligations.
- Be aware of key risk indicators of child abuse, to be observant, and to raise any concerns they may have relating to child abuse with one of the College’s Child Safety Officers and/or with external agencies where required.
- Take all practicable measures to protect students where a risk to their safety has been identified, where students are under their care.
- Comply with the Child Safe Policy, and act in accordance with the Child Safe Code of Conduct.
Health and Safety
- Actively participate in and support a health and safety culture based on an ethos of prevention, consultation, collaboration, co-operation and mutual respect.
- Follow established health and safety policies, procedures, safe work practises, and instructions.
- Report any hazardous condition, incident, injury, near miss and potential risk as soon as practicable.
Performance Indicators
- Have a knowledge of and passion for environmental issues and a commitment to raising environmental awareness and consequent actions.
- Have participated as a student or leader in outdoor education programs or have a willingness to learn these skills.
- Have strong commitment to leading and educating young people.
- Have a good sense of the need for safe practice in Outdoor Education.
- Have a current drivers licence.
- Must complete all compliance training and professional development as assigned by the College.
- A capacity to manage the physical and mental demands of working in an outdoor environment and sharing the overnight supervisions.
Position Requirements
- Certificate IV in Outdoor Education
- Have a knowledge of and passion for environmental issues and a commitment to raising environmental awareness and consequent actions.
- Have participated as a student or leader in outdoor education programs or have a willingness to learn these skills.
- Have a strong commitment to leading and educating young people.
- Have a good sense of the need for safe practice in Outdoor Education
- Have a current driver’s licence.
- Must be willing to partake in other Professional Development activities for the college, such as Youth Mental Health First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Child Protection and other relevant workshops.
- A current Working With Children Check and National Police Certificate are essential requirements of this role.
- A positive history of working with children, and experience in child-related work
- A strong belief in child safety and protection, and a willingness to be actively engaged in the College’s child safe culture
