Role Purpose/Position Summary

This appointment will be crucial in building a College that will touch the world and transform children, enabling them to fulfil their potential and reach their destiny.

The Principal will work with the Board in providing both strategic and day to day leadership of all aspects of the College. The Principal will lead the school and report to the Board on the operational leadership of the College. The Principal will also be delegated to exercise direct responsibility in the areas of organisation and management. Whilst the primary responsibilities of the position are articulated, it is expected that the incumbent will engage with the wider College community and participate fully in events and activities, playing an ambassadorial role as the senior representative of Australis Christian College.

As a key leader the role encompasses:

x Working with the Team to develop, optimise and implement the College Strategic and Master Plan x Attracting new, and sustaining current, enrolments across the College x Positively promoting the College and the brand “Australis” with all key stakeholders and the wider

community. x Maintaining confidentiality and support for the College leadership.

NOTE: This role includes a 0.2 FTE Teaching component

Remuneration: As this role is for a growing College, remuneration will be in line with recognised guidelines for small schools.

Key Relationships

Board members – to work collaboratively to identify needs, initiate change and facilitate innovation, including meeting regularly for prayer, strategic and operational updates with key Board members

Staff – to influence and empower colleagues to work towards continuous improvement and operate in a professional, collaborative and confidential manner

Students – to engage directly with students at all levels, modelling the core values and behaviours which define Australis Christian College community

College community – develop close relationships with all members of the College community

Federal and State Government Agencies – to ensure that all operational performance standards and compliance requirements are met, to remain current with relevant policy developments and endeavour to influence outcomes which benefit the College

Professional, educational and college associations and networks, domestic and international – to engage in ongoing professional learning, participate in shaping the future of education and to build relationships and networks that create current and future opportunities for the College and its students

Independent Schools Victoria – where appropriate, to ensure appropriate support and access to operational resources for the College

Key Responsibilities

Spiritual and Cultural Leadership

x Lead by personal example, by maintaining a Christian tone and atmosphere in the College that reflects a loving and caring community in which excellence in all matters is sought.

x Assist in the establishment and maintenance of a God-honouring spiritual and emotional atmosphere and appropriate lines of communication.

x Model the biblical Christian worldview that underpins the teaching philosophy of the College and balance the Word and the Holy Spirit in the exercise of responsibilities

x Uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of the College and implement all approved policies

Educational and Pedagogical Leadership

x Lead high aspirations in learning and inspire the same in students, staff and parents. T x Establish systematic methods for collecting and interpreting evidence to identify excellent

teaching and learning x Share successful strategies with the school community. x Encourage staff to contribute to education networks, supporting the learning of others and

development of pedagogy. x Model collaborative leadership and engage with other schools and organisations to share and

improve practice and encourage innovation in the education system

Developing Self and Others

x Create challenging roles, responsibilities and opportunities for senior leaders that leverage and grow their talents.

x Build and sustain a coaching and mentoring culture at all levels in the school and have a system of peer review and feedback in place.

x Mentor other principals to support their growth and development and help them to address issues.

x Seek opportunities for professional growth through engaging in state, national and global educational developments.

x Coordinate all staff retreats, social events and community activities, including whole College assemblies other than academic

x Ensure that all members of the College Team have a current and functioning professional development plan and that they are communicating with their line managers about their progress and sharing their learnings with other staff as relevant

x Demonstrate outstanding professional presentation and manner, including excellent written communication skills

Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change

x Embed a culture of continuous improvement, x Ensuring research, innovation and creativity are core characteristics of the school. x Lead educational networks by trialling and exploring new ideas for the system, x Acting as a guide, coach and mentor to staff and colleagues. x Evaluate the personal and organisational effects of change through regular feedback from

stakeholders and evidence of impact on student outcomes. x Develop an innovative and outward-focused role as a leader influencing school excellence

across the system.

Leading the Management of the College

x Overseeing regular policy updates and facilitating consciousness of these by all staff and their access to up-to-date versions of policy

x Coordinating annual surveys and reports for government agencies (e.g. VRQA, DEFWR, VIT) x Be active in staffing and recruitment, including interviewing potential staff members and

contacting referees x Finalising staffing to ensure equity of staffing loads and recognition of individual abilities x Lead, oversee and motivate the performance of all staff in issues of operations and compliance x Identify trends and influences that will have an impact upon the management of the school and

plan for them. x Review the effectiveness of processes and use of data to improve school performance. x Share best management practice and use of resources with other schools and education

networks. x Embed a culture of review, responsibility and shared accountability to achieve high standards

for all.

Engaging and Working with the Community

x Engage with all staff, parent groups and stakeholders regularly about the strategy, direction, successes and challenges of the College

x Maintain a strong presence in both the parent community (by acting as an ambassador of the College by leading and being actively involved in key events for parents through the year including Parent Teacher Interviews, Information Nights, Presentation Nights and so on) and the wider education community

x Oversee the organisation of whole College assemblies and events x Supporting staff, interacting with parents, and supporting College related activities by parents. x Where appropriate, providing spiritual/pastoral guidance to staff x Lead the school as an inclusive outward-facing organisation. x Link with and provide support to other schools in effective community and family engagement. x Draw on best practice nationally and internationally to embed a culture of inclusion and high

expectations for all x Take steps to tackle the effects of disadvantage on learning. x Develop a mutually supportive, collaborative and trusting relationship with the community to

ensure engagement in the life of the school. x Collaborate effectively with other schools and agencies to promote an excellent education

system in which all young people can thrive.

Key Performance Indicators

x KPI 1 – Lead the spiritual and cultural positioning of the College ensuring that all staff maintain the Christian ethos of the College

x KPI 2 – Pedagogical best practice is established and maintained on an on-going basis through the Biblical Christian worldview

x KPI 3 – They and all staff have an active professional development plan including Biblical Christian worldview

x KPI 4 – A process of continuous improvement is embedded in the college and demonstrated by student learning outcomes achieved at above benchmark levels

x KPI 5 – A culture of innovation and excellence is established and encouraged x KPI 6 – All required regulatory reports and submissions are made complete and in time x KPI 7 – Strong and healthy relationships are built with all stakeholders x KPI 8 – College operational activities are completed in a timely and effective manner

Personal Attributes x Knows the call of God on their lives and passionate about Christian education x Authentic with a strong personal presence, poise and natural capacity to inspire students, staff

and stakeholders x Confident in engaging with parents – able to manage their high expectations x Articulate and engaging with a personal warmth that engenders mutual respect and builds

commitment to the College x Intellectually and emotionally intelligent x Guided by a strong ethical framework and morally courageous and judicious in decision-making x Driven to achieve the best operational outcomes for the College x A collaborative team player balanced with the ability to be decisive and directional where

situations demand x A strategic thinker who can translate ideas and concepts into action, analyse complex situations

and engage others proactively in change and improvement x Resilient and able to develop resilience in others x Has a faith and commitment that supports and respects the Christian values of Australis

Christian College x Actively involved in their local church including mentoring from a Christian leader x Awareness of the college’s foundational roots and outworking of the founding church’s vision

through the college

Selection Criteria Demonstrated Experience and Skills

x Current VIT Registration and Police Check x Actively involved in their local church including mentoring from a Christian leader x A successful and proven record of leading a College, in a Christian educational environment,

with: o A capacity to articulate, demonstrate and promote the benefits of continuous education

(ELC to Year 12) within a co-educational setting o A track record of success in building highly effective teams within and across

departments/sections and functions of a college/organization o A well-informed understanding of contemporary College management o An ability to attract, mentor and inspire outstanding staff who are passionate about

education o Superior intellect that is demonstrated by highly developed research, oral and written

communication skills o An appreciation of the dynamics associated with building and sustaining enrolments in a

highly competitive educational environment o A capacity to build high quality relationships that engender trust and respect with key

stakeholders in a college environment o Knowledge of and experience in contemporary management practices in Colleges

including: � Strategic design, planning and implementation � Change and Project management � Staff professional development and appraisal � Stakeholder relationship development and management – parents, alumni and

the wider community � Community engagement – locally, nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

x Master’s Level Tertiary level qualification in a relevant educational discipline or equivalent (Mandatory)