Dean of Students (K – 12) Wenona (NSW)

Wenona – a leading day and boarding school for girls in North Sydney – seeks an exceptional Dean of Students to lead a dynamic Wellbeing team (K to 12). This outstanding leader will oversee the School’s comprehensive Wellbeing program, offering the highest levels of age-appropriate care and support to students and their families.

• Promote the flourishing and excellence of young people at one of Australia’s leading girls’ schools.
• Partner with staff, parents and a team of allied healthcare professionals to cultivate a positive and respectful network of support that enhances student wellbeing, supporting students into adulthood.
• Proactively manage the systems, protocols and communication processes needed to ensure a best practice approach to student wellbeing (K to 12).

Wenona has remained at the forefront of girls’ education since its establishment in 1886. For the past 135 years, it has been a dynamic and future-focused school, as well as a pioneer in the education and rights of young women. While the School is not academically selective, its students continually achieve well above state and national averages. Its alumnae are leaders, innovators and true original thinkers across every level of society, and their unique way of seeing the world is reflected in the School’s dynamic global learning community. Wenona has a team of highly qualified and committed staff and is committed to their professional development to drive innovative practice and embrace learning at every opportunity.

Located five kilometres from Sydney’s CBD in North Sydney, the School currently has 1,250 students from Kindergarten to Year 12, as well as a small Boarding House that caters for 50 boarders from regional and remote areas of Australia and overseas. Wenona’s Junior School recently received accreditation to deliver the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme (PYP). The School is affiliated with the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, the Association of Independent Girls’ Schools, and the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia.

Wenona embraces the values and ideals of the Renaissance woman, so along with its rigorous academic program, students are encouraged to engage in a wide range of creative and physical pursuits, as well as leadership opportunities. Drawing on the School’s values of courage, strength, grace, wisdom and kindness, students are taught to be inclusive in all their dealings with others, to celebrate difference, and to value original thinking. Wenona’s commitment to service is underpinned by the School motto, Ut Prosim, that I may serve, empowering students to make wise, informed, and thoughtful decisions about their life and to pursue opportunities to serve and shape their world.

A comprehensive Wellbeing program integrates all aspects of life at Wenona and focuses on the whole student, supporting each girl to make the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood. The School works hard to keep the channels of communication open between its students, staff and parents in the knowledge that student wellbeing is always most effectively delivered when there is a consistent approach.

As part of the School’s Leadership Team, the Dean of Students will report to the Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing). An attractive salary and benefits package will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

The Dean of Students will be a relational, empowering and dynamic professional with the capability to:

• Provide outstanding student wellbeing (K to 12) by developing and implementing processes that successfully manage consistent communication and administrative protocols.
• Lead a team of allied healthcare professionals to meet the individual and group needs of girls and young women.
• Collaborate with the Principal, Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing), Heads of School, year coordinators, registered nurses, psychologists, counsellors and teachers to enable every student at Wenona to flourish.
• Embed systems, protocols and processes across the School, with clear guidelines and procedures to allow for a multifaceted approach to student wellbeing.
• Ensure all staff are well equipped to follow reporting protocols and ensure that all student wellbeing issues and interventions are correctly documented and discussed.
• Develop specific wellbeing initiatives that complement the published SEL program (K to 12) – including respectful relationships, consent education, cyber safety etc.
• Ensure student wellbeing is a key priority for all staff, so that student wellbeing continues to be a central part of whole-school life, supporting students into adulthood.

Wenona has engaged Hutton Consulting Australia to assist with the search and selection process for this position. For a confidential discussion regarding the application process and to obtain a candidate information pack, please contact either:

Dr Tim Hawkes on 0417 696 847 or email tim.hawkes@hutton.education or

Jann Robinson on 0437 774 734 or email jann.robinson@hutton.education

Please do not apply directly online.

Applications close Monday 22 November, 2021 at 5pm.