Role: Educational Support Officer Location: Glen Waverley Part Time - 5 Days a week Join a School Where Relationships Matter Cheshire School is a specialist interim education setting for primary-aged children with complex social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Through a safe and engaging environment, our team of dedicated staff foster self-esteem, resilience, and respect. Our expertise in supporting various diagnoses and behaviors ensures students develop positive participation, self-regulation, and a renewed desire to learn. Together with families, we empower students to thrive as learners and become confident members of their community. We are seeking an Education Support Officer who brings calmness, compassion and a genuine commitment to supporting children. This is deeply meaningful work. It is also work that requires patience, reflection, consistency, and the ability to remain steady and connected during difficult moments. Some days are unpredictable and emotionally demanding. Yet the rewards are profound, found in the gradual building of trust, moments of co-regulation, renewed confidence, and the small but significant steps students take toward engagement, learning, and belonging. The Role As an Education Support Officer, you will work closely with teachers, allied health professionals, and the broader multidisciplinary team supporting neurodiverse students with complex social, emotional, and behavioral needs to feel safe, connected, and ready to learn. No two days are the same. Your role may involve: Supporting students to regulate during periods of distress or overwhelm Assisting students to engage in classroom learning and routines Facilitating positive social interactions and supported play Adapting tasks and environments to meet individual needs Implementing personalised support strategies developed collaboratively with the team Building consistent, trusting relationships with students and families Celebrating and encouraging small but meaningful moments of progress This role requires a relational approach, emotional steadiness, and the capacity to respond flexibly and thoughtfully within a dynamic school environment. About You We are looking for someone who is: Calm, grounded, and ability to work effectively with dysregulated student behaviour Warm, relational, and able to build trust with students Trauma-informed and neuro-affirming in their practice Understanding of neurodivergence, sensory needs, and emotional regulation Reflective, collaborative, and open to ongoing learning Able to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team Committed to child safety, inclusion, wellbeing, and positive student outcomes Capable of maintaining clear, consistent, and compassionate boundaries What We’re Looking For To be successful you will have a minimum qualification of Certificate II and Certificate III is highly desirable in Education Support and have experience working in a similar role We are seeking candidates with demonstrated experience working in specialist primary school setting and relevant qualifications Current Working with children check Unrestricted Australian working rights Passionate about early intervention and family-centred practice A strong communicator who enjoys working with families and educators Comfortable working both independently and within a multidisciplinary team You must hold a valid driver’s licence and access to a vehicle. Why Work at Cheshire School? Cheshire School is a place where relationships are prioritised, teamwork is valued, and staff are supported to engage in reflective and meaningful practice. The impact of this work is often seen in the quieter moments: a student seeking support instead of escalating, participating in learning after a difficult start to the day, reconnecting after dysregulation, or beginning to feel safe enough to trust the adults around them. If you are seeking purposeful work within a thoughtful, compassionate, and highly supportive team environment, we would welcome your application. About us: bestchance Child Family Care is a not-for-profit organisation with the aim of building stronger communities, healthier families and happier childhoods. We achieve this through our quality education, care and therapy services for children, our support programs for families, and our registered training organisation. bestchance Child Family Care provides a supportive environment to grow, nurture and develop strong bonds with children and families. For more information visit our website at https://www.bestchance.org.au/ and Cheshire School - Support For Unique Learners | Bestchance Applications: If this opportunity interests you, please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter at your earliest convenience. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and interest in the role. If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact the team at careers@bestchance.org.au bestchance is a child safe and equal opportunity employer. We are committed to child safety and have zero tolerance of child abuse. Applicants should be aware that we carry out Working with Children, Police Records and reference checks to ensure that we are recruiting the right people Education Support Officer
