Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader recruitment

Recruiting and employing a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

When advertising Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) roles, successful applicants must have a suitable teaching qualification and provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).

Government schools recruiting to a MHWL position must comply with the Recruitment in Schools policy and are expected to advertise for the MHWL position via School Jobs Vic.

A sample template position description (DOCX) to support recruitment of an MHWL at the Classroom Teacher Range 2 level is available on the Resources tab.

To support onboarding of a MHWL once recruited, school leaders should refer to the onboarding checklist (DOCX).

All employment decisions must be able to be funded by the Student Resource Package.

For further information about staff remuneration, please refer to the department’s Remuneration – Teaching Service policy.

Appointing an existing staff member as a MHWL

Where there are suitable employees within the school who are able to carry out the MHWL role in line with the roles and responsibilities, a principal may consider internal processes, such as an expression of interest process, to appoint existing staff to this role.

MHWLs who hold other roles in addition to their MHWL duties (such as a classroom teacher or assistant principal) will have their workload adjusted on a pro-rata basis according to the FTE of each role. Sufficient and reasonable time should be provided to carry out the duties of each role. To support a MHWL working in multiple roles, please refer to the Setting the MHWL up for success chapter.

An existing staff member without a teaching qualification or full or provisional VIT registration, may be allocated a MHWL role in exceptional circumstances and after consultation with key regional and central department staff. Refer to Regional mental health branch support for further information.

Registering the MHWL

Once schools have appointed a MHWL, they must complete the MHWL enrolment form to ensure the MHWL receives key information about MHiPS training and are allocated a Learning Leader.

If schools have a change of MHWL, this must be noted via the change in MHWL form.

Attraction and retention strategies

Schools can enable flexible working arrangements such as job-share arrangements to support the recruitment of an MHWL.

Smaller schools may partner with other nearby schools to combine allocated FTE and appoint a MHWL to work across multiple schools.

Schools jointly recruiting are subject to the department Staffing Cooperation Guide, requiring a nominated base school for the position to manage employment arrangements.

Recruitment and employment support

For advertising and general recruitment advice, refer to Recruitment in Schools or contact the Schools Recruitment unit:

• phone: 1800 641 943
• email: schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au

For policy advice and assistance with industrial relations matters, contact the Policy, Workplace Relations and Initiatives (Schools) branch:

• phone: 03 7022 0013
• email: workplace.relations@education.vic.gov.au

For specialised and targeted support and information about initiatives to assist schools with recruitment, refer to Workforce Support and Initiatives for Schools or contact the Schools Workforce Initiatives team:

• phone: 03 7022 5555
• email: swg_policy.initiatives@education.vic.gov.au

The department’s regional mental health branches can also provide support for recruitment and onboarding of MHWLs. Refer to: Regional mental health branch support.