Tagai State College is seeking a dynamic and visionary Deputy Principal - Special Education/Inclusion to lead and enhance our Inclusive Education program across the College. Based on Thursday Island, this unique role involves regular travel to outer islands by light aircraft, supporting inclusive practices across our diverse and remote school communities.

If you’re passionate about equity, educational leadership, and making a meaningful impact in a culturally rich setting, we invite you to apply.

Job details

Image courtesy of Tagai State College

Who We Are:

Tagai State College, located in the Torres Strait, comprises 16 Primary campuses and one Secondary campus, spread across 15 islands and covering over 48,000 square kilometres of stunning tropical landscape. As one of the most unique educational settings in Queensland, the College is committed to delivering high-quality, culturally responsive education to students from Prep to Year 12. Tagai State College celebrates Torres Strait Islander culture, language, and identity, and works in strong partnership with local communities to support student achievement, wellbeing, and future pathways.

What You Bring:

Our ideal candidate is a compassionate, student-centred leader with a proven track record in driving inclusive practices within a diverse educational environment. They will have extensive experience in supporting students with additional learning needs, including disability, trauma, behaviour, and giftedness, and demonstrate deep knowledge of inclusive pedagogies and evidence-based interventions.

The successful candidate will possess strong capabilities in staff leadership and professional development, data-informed decision-making, and multi-tiered systems of support. They must have successfully line managed a team of professionals, demonstrating their ability to lead, support, and develop staff to deliver positive outcomes for students. The ideal candidate will also be skilled in fostering a collaborative culture among teachers, families, and external specialists to create equitable access to education for all learners.

About The Role:

• Improve the educational outcomes of all students in your school, especially those with disabilities
• Develop the quality of teaching and learning
• Nurture positive relationships between students, teachers, the community and stakeholders.
• Line manage the Students with Disability teachers across the college
• Lead teams to develop quality systems to support student services

Responsibilities Include:

• Is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and participates in school decision making processes as well as professional development to contribute to school goals, vision and planning.
• Manage and coordinate the delivery of high-quality advice and support provided by the Special Education Program and/or Early Childhood Development Program.
• Lead and manage the Special Education Program and/or Early Childhood Development Program to provide advice to classroom teachers for students with disability as needed.
• Provide high quality advice to the school leadership team, classroom teachers and other school staff to develop, plan and implement effective reasonable adjustments for students with disability.
• Coordinate and provide intensive targeted teaching for students requiring intervention.
• Provide, support and/or coordinate case management for students who require extensive or substantial adjustments.
• Support Students with Disabilities teachers and other school leaders to access departmental or other external specialist services, professional development, and supports as needed.

Please view the Role Description for a full list of responsibilities. 

Submit Your Application:

• Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history)
• Attach a 2-page response to the How you may be assessed section of the attached role description.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

For a full list of the position responsibilities and mandatory requirements, please ensure you download the attached Role Description and Applicant Information Package and follow the instructions.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Applicant Information Package (PDF, 245KB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  FNR660419_25P Role Description (PDF, 183KB)
  Role Description