Head of Student Learning and Support

Posted: 27/04/2026 Closing Date: 24/05/2026 Job Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: Newcastle West Job Category: Education, Childcare & Training EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY Full-time, permanent executive leadership opportunity commencing January 2027. Based at the Catholic Schools Head Office in Newcastle West, this pivotal role sits within the CSO Leadership Team, providing system-wide leadership and influence across Catholic education in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of inclusive education at scale—leading strategic direction, innovation, and high-impact system reform across specialist learning, student wellbeing, behaviour support, counselling, and allied health services. You will play a critical role in driving system-wide improvement and strengthening outcomes for every student, ensuring they are supported to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally within safe, inclusive, and high-performing learning environments. Applicants must be practising Catholics with a demonstrated commitment to the mission, teachings, and ethos of the Catholic Church. Job Description This senior leadership position is responsible for providing system wide leadership of specialist learning and support services, with a focus on students with disability captured under Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), English as a second language or dialect (EAL/D) and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander funding. The role is also responsible for the Student Wellbeing framework system wide initiatives, positive behaviour programs and student counselling services and allied health professional services offered to our schools. This position sits on the CSO Leadership team and creates a culture of belonging and acceptance for all, ensuring:

• Every student is known as a person and a learner, and demonstrates growth in learning each year
• Learning opportunities are maximised through deep understanding of individual student needs and characteristics
• Strategic leadership in the development, delivery, facilitation and evaluation of specialist programs that enhance engagement and opportunity
• Support for students with disability, mental health challenges and complex needs, aligned with diocesan student outcome priorities
• Development of adaptive, innovative and continuous improvement strategies for funded student support programs
• Collaboration with the Head of Data and Analytics to ensure accurate, meaningful data informs school improvement and student progress

Experience/CriteriaDesired Skills and Experience

• A clear understanding of contemporary issues in the Catholic Church and a personal commitment to Catholic education and the mission of Catholic schools.
• Demonstrated success in ensuring a culture of continuous improvement, creating and leading effective specialist programs.
• Demonstrated management and administrative skills to ensure assessment and specialist support programs operate effectively and efficiently.
• High level communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to develop and sustain constructive and respectful relationships within and beyond the school community.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and sustaining collaborative multidisciplinary teams to provide integrated support to school staff in achieving quality student learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated capacity to think and act strategically, to plan and evaluate collaboratively with multiple stakeholders in leading specialist funded programs.
• A passion for and interest in the development of all students during their school journey.
• Expertise in current curriculum and wellbeing as well as familiarity with state and national developments in specialist education.
• Lead a commitment to student needs though the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) frameworks, such as Response To Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the capacity to effectively use data to optimise student outcomes.
• Sound knowledge of all relevant legislation and legal frameworks including child protection, work health and safety, equity and diversity and performance management principles and the capacity to implement relevant plans and policies to ensure string governance.
• Capacity to lead staff in implementing funded student support programs to ensure quality outcomes for students with additional and/or complex needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with Principals, staff in school systems, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead a team that have familiarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pedagogical approaches and learning styles and the ability to guide school staff in adopting practices that acknowledge and respect cultural perspectives in teaching and learning.
• Lead a team driving continuous improvement in support programs, ensuring they remain relevant, high-quality, and responsive to the evolving needs of students.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in specialist education, educational leadership with demonstrated teaching experience and experience as a senior educator or an equivalent combination of experience, training, and achievement.
• NESA Teacher Accreditation.
• Current paid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) number.
• Level E Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead
• Senior Allied Health experience (desirable)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact Jacqueline Wilkinson, Director of Catholic Schools on Tel: 0448 518 186 or via email: jacqueline.wilkinson@mn.catholic.edu.au TO APPLY

• Please provide a cover letter along with your resume
• Within your cover letter address each of the selection criteria as listed under EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA above and ensure your response to each criteria is no longer than 300 words.

Please note, not adequately addressing the selection criteria may result in your application not being shortlisted. Applications close: Sunday 24th May 2026 at 11.59pmAdditional Information The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a child safe organisation, committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable persons and has zero-tolerance of any abuse. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and comply with our Safeguarding Framework Policy and Codes of Conduct. This position has been determined as child related and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will be verifying the successful applicant’s Working with Children Check for Paid Employment prior to commencing working in the position. For more information, please visit the NSW Office of Children’s Guardian. Applicants must be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children.