Teacher Special Education - Cessnock Public School

Cessnock Public School has a proud and long history serving the Cessnock community and currently enrols approximately 300 students. Our school includes ten mainstream classes and seven inclusive education classes, supporting both local students and those from surrounding areas. Our school will be opening a new two room Preschool in 2027, as part of the 100 New Public School Preschools.

With a Family Occupation and Education Index of 150, the school receives targeted funding for equity, socio-economic background, and Aboriginal student support, with around 30% of students identifying as Aboriginal. Our inclusive curriculum incorporates the Aboriginal Pedagogies framework to respectfully embed Aboriginal perspectives and learning methods, alongside the Awabakal Language program.

Student wellbeing is a priority, supported by programs such as Positive Behaviour for Learning and the Berry Street Education Model. Two Assistant Principals, Curriculum and Instruction, lead school-wide initiatives to strengthen evidence-based literacy and numeracy aligned with curriculum reforms.

We promote collaborative teaching and learning through a Professional Learning Community (PLC) approach. Quality Teaching Rounds are embedded within this framework, allowing teacher teams to observe, reflect, and continuously improve their practice to enhance student outcomes.

Cessnock Public School has a proud and long history serving the Cessnock community and currently enrols approximately 300 students. Our school includes ten mainstream classes and seven inclusive education classes, supporting both local students and those from surrounding areas. Our school will be opening a new two room Preschool in 2027, as part of the 100 New Public School Preschools.

With a Family Occupation and Education Index of 150, the school receives targeted funding for equity, socio-economic background, and Aboriginal student support, with around 30% of students identifying as Aboriginal. Our inclusive curriculum incorporates the Aboriginal Pedagogies framework to respectfully embed Aboriginal perspectives and learning methods, alongside the Awabakal Language program.

Student wellbeing is a priority, supported by programs such as Positive Behaviour for Learning and the Berry Street Education Model. Two Assistant Principals, Curriculum and Instruction, lead school-wide initiatives to strengthen evidence-based literacy and numeracy aligned with curriculum reforms.

We promote collaborative teaching and learning through a Professional Learning Community (PLC) approach. Quality Teaching Rounds are embedded within this framework, allowing teacher teams to observe, reflect, and continuously improve their practice to enhance student outcomes.

Our Inclusive Education Classes are made up of two Intensive Learning Support - Mental Health (ILSMH), two Multi-cateorigcal (MC), one Autism (AU), one Moderate Disability (IO) and one Mild Intellectual (IM) classes. These classes are supported by an Assistant Principal Iclusion and and Depty Principal Inclusion.

The position will focus on delivering high-quality, personalised learning and support that responds to the individual strengths, needs and goals of students within the Inclusive Education Classes hub. The teacher will work collaboratively with School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs), families, school staff and external professionals to develop and implement individualised approaches that support student learning, wellbeing, communication, independence and social development. A strong emphasis will be placed on building respectful partnerships with parents and carers, monitoring and communicating student progress, celebrating achievement, and creating safe, engaging and purposeful learning opportunities.

1. Approval to teach, and experience teaching students with autism, mild and moderate intellectual disabilities, complex learning, behavioural and emotional needs, demonstrating effective classroom management and a strong commitment to inclusive education.
2. Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate with staff, families and external professionals to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing.
3. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate individualised Learning Support Plans and differentiated teaching and learning programs that meet the diverse needs and abilities of students.
4. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate individualised behaviour management plans and proactive, positive behaviour support strategies to meet complex behavioural and emotional needs and maintain safe, inclusive learning environments.

1. Approval to teach, and experience teaching students with autism, mild and moderate intellectual disabilities, complex learning, behavioural and emotional needs, demonstrating effective classroom management and a strong commitment to inclusive education.
2. Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate with staff, families and external professionals to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing.
3. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate individualised Learning Support Plans and differentiated teaching and learning programs that meet the diverse needs and abilities of students.
4. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate individualised behaviour management plans and proactive, positive behaviour support strategies to meet complex behavioural and emotional needs and maintain safe, inclusive learning environments.

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.

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.

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.

Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

If you are new or returning to the Department of Education and have relevant prior professional experience, you can submit a Salary determination for classroom teachers application form to request a salary determination. Until the outcome of any such determination is confirmed, your salary offer will remain at Step 1 then be updated at a later date (typically a 1–2-week processing time post receipt of the form). For further details on this process, please see the Department’s policy here: Salary determination.

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.

Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

If you are new or returning to the Department of Education and have relevant prior professional experience, you can submit a Salary determination for classroom teachers application form to request a salary determination. Until the outcome of any such determination is confirmed, your salary offer will remain at Step 1 then be updated at a later date (typically a 1–2-week processing time post receipt of the form). For further details on this process, please see the Department’s policy here: Salary determination.

Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support in applying for the role please contact School Recruitment Support at 1300 863 694.

Merit selection application guidelines for classroom teachers, executives and principals provide clear advice for applicants and selection panels. The guidelines are available here.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support in applying for the role please contact School Recruitment Support at 1300 863 694.