(02) 6585 1400
About this job
Position Information
Wauchope High School is a comprehensive, co-educational secondary school proudly situated on Birpai Country in the Hastings Valley on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Serving a vibrant rural community, the school has an enrolment of approximately 450 students, including 23% of students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The school is recognised for its strong community partnerships, inclusive culture and commitment to providing aspirational pathways that enable students to thrive academically, vocationally and personally.
Wauchope High School has a proud tradition of excellence and high expectations, with generations of students achieving success across diverse fields including education, agriculture, trades, business, sport, the arts and community leadership. The school is deeply valued within the local community and is recognised for developing confident, capable young people who contribute positively to society.
The school offers a broad and future-focused curriculum with strong pathways into university, vocational education, apprenticeships and traineeships. Its celebrated Agriculture and Primary Industries programs are supported through the school's working farm and include nationally recognised VET qualifications that provide students with authentic industry experiences and practical skills for future employment. Purpose-built commercial kitchens within the school's trade training centre support the delivery of Hospitality VET credentials, with students also engaging in industry work placement opportunities that strengthen connections between education and employment.
Wauchope High School has a strong reputation for excellence in sport and High Potential and Gifted Education opportunities. A longstanding source of pride is the annual sporting exchange with Cumberland High School, a tradition that has endured for more than 50 years and provides exceptional opportunities for students to demonstrate teamwork, leadership and sporting excellence in a highly regarded interschool competition.
The school maintains close and highly valued partnerships with its feeder primary schools, supporting students and families through outstanding transition programs that foster belonging, confidence and connection. Programs such as Birpai Buddies, Sista Speak and Bro Speak provide culturally responsive mentoring and leadership opportunities for students, while the school's highly sought-after Aboriginal Gathang Language Program, led by the Aboriginal Education Officer, strengthens cultural identity, language revitalisation and community connection.
Student wellbeing is central to the work of the school. Wauchope High School provides a range of supports to ensure students feel known, valued and cared for, including Breakfast Club programs, wellbeing initiatives and access to dedicated student support staff, including a Student Support Officer. Student voice is highly valued through an active Student Representative Council, with students regularly contributing to school decision-making, leadership initiatives and community events.
Students proudly represent the school across the wider community, demonstrating respect, leadership and civic pride. This is particularly evident through the school's longstanding and significant involvement in local ANZAC Day commemorations, where students play an important role in honouring service and strengthening community connection.
Specific Selection Criteria
1. Approval to teach special education and/or demonstrated experience teaching students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities and mental health needs.
2. Highly developed communication, interpersonal and organisational skills with the capacity to establish and maintain effective, proactive partnerships with students, parents, staff, external agencies and the wider community.
3. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to design, implement and review individualised education, health and behaviour plans based on student need.
4. Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively to plan, deliver and report on quality teaching and learning programs accessible to all students, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Conditions
An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.
Special Notes
Applicants are to include details of their WWCC clearance number as part of this application.
About the NSW Department of Education
The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.