Position description

POSITION DETAILS

Position title: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Social Work
School/Unit: Faculty of Health
Executive portfolio: Vice Chancellor
Responsible to: Discipline Chair, Social Work and Community Welfare
Campus/location: Gold Coast Campus
Level: Academic Level B, C or D

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Southern Cross University is powered by passion to deliver the best learning, teaching and research possible. Our graduates stride a global stage with confidence as proud alumni. Working at Southern Cross combines a rare privilege of being surrounded by ambitious students, amazing and dedicated colleagues and an environment of stunning natural beauty. We create and apply knowledge in partnership with our communities in fields that are regionally relevant and globally significant. Our people go above and beyond, working with energy and empathy alongside their colleagues for the best outcomes for the student and the University.

Our values, collegiality and integrity, are demonstrated by working openly, honestly and respectfully together, engaging meaningfully in our local and global communities, with drive and accountability.

The Faculty of Health provides an exciting and innovative learning environment working with individuals, families and communities in order to meet their health and social needs. The Faculty is distinctive for its multidisciplinary understanding of client care, commitment to the prevention of disease and promotion of healthy lifestyles and working with Indigenous colleagues to develop culturally appropriate models of care. The Faculty offers fields of study across a broad range of health-related professions including nursing, midwifery, social work, community welfare, biomedical science, clinical exercise physiology, diabetes education and management, occupational therapy, osteopathy, pedorthics, podiatry, psychology, speech pathology, and sport and exercise science.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Lecturer (Level B), Senior Lecturer (Level C) or Associate Professor (Level D) will contribute to the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying), Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Community Welfare degrees. The appointee will contribute to the coordination and teaching of field education units.

ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

The appointee reports to the Discipline Chair, Social Work and Community Welfare. This position has no direct reports but may be required to oversee the work of casual academic staff within the discipline.

ORGANISATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Southern Cross University is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff. Employees are required to comply with a range of statutory requirements, including equal opportunity, workplace health and safety, privacy and trade practice.

Employees are also expected to comply with the University values, code of conduct and policy and procedures, which relate to our ways of working. Appointees are accountable for completing training on these matters and ensuring their knowledge, and the knowledge of their staff, is up to date.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Specific duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

Teaching, learning and the student experience

• Undertake Unit Assessor responsibilities, including for field education units.
• Undertake Course Coordinator responsibilities, where required.
• Provide a high standard of teaching and learning.
• Support and enhance the student learning experience by:
  • a student-centred approach to education delivery;
  • actively engaging in the adoption of existing and emerging learning technology and platforms; and o providing flexible options across blended and online delivery modes.
• Actively engage in the scholarship of teaching through reflective practice and engagement in professional activities.

Research

• Undertake research activities that align with the research profile of the Faculty.
• Contribute to this research profile through publications in quality journals, engagement with industry and successful applications for grant funding, or other scholarship activities.

Service and engagement

• Undertake relevant community and professional engagement that support and enhance the University and Faculty’s profile and priorities.
• Undertake relevant administrative roles and functions within the Faculty and University as directed.
• Contribute to the Faculty through active and positive engagement in meetings, committees and projects.
• At all times, demonstrate commitment to the University’s values of collegiality and integrity.
• Other duties as required, commensurate with the level of appointment.

In addition, the Senior Lecturer will:

• Provide academic leadership to the research activities of colleagues.
• Encourage and support the professional development of Faculty staff.
• Develop and maintain relationships and partnerships within other educational and research institutions, and within the wider community.

In addition, the Associate Professor will:

• Make an outstanding contribution to the research profile of the Faculty.
• Act as a Principal Supervisor to Higher Degree Research students.
• Undertake Discipline Chair responsibilities, where required.
• Provide leadership in the professional development of Faculty staff.
• Provide leadership in developing and maintaining external relationships, including with professional accreditation bodies.

Level B – Lecturer

A Level B academic will be required to engage in one or more categories of scholarship on an independent or team basis in his or her discipline or related area. A Level B academic will make an independent contribution through professional practice and expertise and coordinate and/or lead the activities of other staff, as appropriate to the discipline.

A Level B academic may be required to contribute to the scholarship of teaching at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level, engage in independent research and/or professional activities appropriate to their profession or discipline. They will normally undertake administration primarily relating to his or her activities at the institution and may be required to perform the full academic responsibilities of and related administration for the coordination of an award program of the institution.

A Level B academic may be required to supervise postgraduate research students or projects. A Level B academic would normally have experience in scholarship activities, which have resulted in publications in refereed journals or other demonstrated scholarship activities.

Level C – Senior Lecturer

A Level C academic will make a significant contribution to the discipline at the national level. In one or more categories of scholarship they will make original contributions, which expand knowledge or practice in their discipline.

A Level C academic will make a significant contribution to the scholarship and administration activities of an organisational unit or an interdisciplinary area at undergraduate, honour and postgraduate level. They will play a major role or provide a significant degree of leadership in scholarship and/or professional activities relevant to the profession, discipline and/or community and may be required to perform the full academic responsibilities of and related administration for the coordination of a large award program or a number of smaller award programs of the institution.

A Level C academic will make independent and original contributions to one or more categories of scholarship, which have a significant impact on his or her field of expertise. The work of the academic will be acknowledged at a national level as being influential in expanding the knowledge of his or her discipline. This standing will normally be demonstrated by a strong record of published work or other demonstrated scholarship activities. A Level C academic will normally provide leadership in research training and supervision.

Level D – Associate Professor

A Level D academic will make an outstanding contribution to one or more categories of scholarship and the administration activities of an organisational unit, including a large organisational unit, or interdisciplinary area.

A Level D academic will make an outstanding contribution to the governance and collegial life inside and outside of Southern Cross University and will have attained recognition at a national or international level in their discipline. They will make original and innovative contributions to the advancement of scholarship in their discipline.

A Level D academic will make major original and innovative contributions to their field of study, which are recognised as outstanding nationally or internationally. A Level D academic will play an outstanding role within Southern Cross University, discipline and/or profession in fostering the scholarship activities of others, which may include research training.

For further information go to the University’s Minimum Standards for Academic Staff.

SPECIAL WORK REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Driver’s Licence, with an ability and willingness to travel between all University campuses in order to undertake duties, as required by supervisor or Head of Work Unit.
• Working with Children Check clearance, QLD Blue Card or relevant state-based equivalent.
• Current Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, Varicella, Tetanus, Diphtheria Vaccination.
• A Criminal History Check.
• Eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Ideally, the appointee should possess the following qualifications, skills, abilities and experience:

• A PhD in a social work or related discipline and post-qualifying social work practice experience. Applicants must be eligible for, or have current, membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
• Demonstrated experience teaching at a tertiary level in social work and in the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative curricula.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of online educational programs that incorporate information and communications technologies to enhance teaching and learning.
• Evidence of high level interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to foster and lead effective relationships with students, staff and industry representatives;
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity and a working knowledge of equity and WHS principles in the workplace.

Additional criterion for applications for a Level B appointment:

• A track record in research, as evidenced by grants, publication output and supervision of research students.

Additional criterion for applications for a Level C appointment:

• A strong research track record and experience of leadership in research, as evidenced by external grants, quality publication output and supervision of research staff and students.

Additional criteria for applications for a Level D appointment:

• A national or international reputation for expertise in a field related to social work, as demonstrated through external recognition of research, teaching or social work practice.
• An outstanding and sustained track record in research and research leadership, as evidenced by external grants, quality publication output, research impact, management of a research team, and supervision of Higher Degree Research students to completion.