Leader CWU
At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.
- Ongoing Full Time
- Location: We offer flexible working arrangement, with an expectation to attend our Parramatta head office
- Salary: Clerk Grade 11/12 with salary ranging from $145,378 to $168,130 + super and annual leave loading
- Make a meaningful impact in Child Protection and Wellbeing
About the role
We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic professional to join our team as a Leader, Child Wellbeing Unit (CWU). In this role, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to a team of Managers, ensuring high-quality, timely responses to child protection matters. You will oversee the assessment and escalation of child wellbeing concerns, ensuring practices align with legal requirements and departmental policies.
Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (CWMHS)
Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (CWMHS) delivers targeted student support in areas such as child protection, disability, mental health, and complex needs. The service aims to better align and coordinate psychological and child protection services in schools, respond effectively to urgent local issues, and promote best practice in service delivery.
For further information please click here to view the role description
About you
You are an experienced and inspiring leader with a strong background in child protection, wellbeing, or human services—ideally within a government or education setting.
The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:
- Experience in risk assessments and providing effective advice and responses
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Demonstrated the ability to build strong and collaborative partnerships
- Proven track record in mentoring and supporting staff development to enhance team performance
This is your opportunity to shape child protection responses in a meaningful way while working in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.
If this sounds like you, Apply now!
Key Knowledge and Experience
- University degree in social sciences or related discipline; or equivalent relevant work experience.
- A working understanding of relevant legislation, policies and best practices relating to child protection
- Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Essential requirements of the role
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
- Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check) for paid employment
- Demonstrated leadership experience in managing large teams in high-demand, complex service environments.
- Extensive knowledge of child protection legislation, policies, and interagency frameworks.
- Tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology, education, or a related field, and/or equivalent experience.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements
- 35 hour working week
- Competitive, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
- Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth
How to apply
Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role as well as providing answers to the 2 pre-screening questions below:
Targeted Question 1
Describe a time when you provided strategic and operational leadership to a team managing complex service delivery in a high-demand environment. How did you support staff performance and wellbeing, ensure consistency and quality in service delivery, and what improvements or outcomes were achieved as a result of your leadership? (300 words)
Targeted Question 2
Provide an example of how you have led or overseen a child protection response requiring complex risk assessment, interagency collaboration, and adherence to legislative and policy requirements. What was your approach, how did you ensure quality and timeliness, and what was the impact for the child or young person involved? (300 words)
Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.
If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit your application.
All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now’.
Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.
This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.
Closing date: Monday 26 May 2025 at 11:59pm.
For role enquiries please contact Krista Sanders via email on Krista.Sanders2@det.nsw.edu.au and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Rabia Zia-Hamid on rabia.zia-hamid@det.nsw.edu.au
We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team (dandi@det.nsw.edu.au) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.
A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.
