Manager, Student Life

About Edith Cowan College

Edith Cowan College (ECC) is an accredited higher education provider delivering academic and English pathway programs to international and domestic students entering Edith Cowan University (ECU). Located on ECU campuses, ECC specialises in supporting students who may not meet direct entry requirements, offering a welcoming and supportive learning environment. Established in 1994 and backed by a long-standing partnership between ECU and Navitas, ECC is the University’s only on-campus pathway provider, where staff are part of a collaborative, diverse professional community.

About Navitas

Navitas has helped generations of learners change their lives through education. For over 25 years, hundreds of thousands of learners from around the world have graduated from Navitas colleges, having experienced a teaching and learning environment that supports them to harness their talents and achieve their dreams.

Position highlights:

• Lead and inspire the Student Life team in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive Student Wellness Framework that supports student wellbeing, engagement, and success.
• Provide student counselling, deliver wellbeing interventions, and coordinate referrals to ensure students receive appropriate academic, personal, and mental health support.
• Join an inclusive, dynamic and supportive team.

Overview and Objectives of the Position:

The Student Life team is a new team within the college and the Manager, Student Life will play a key role in managing the team to cultivate a supportive, inclusive campus environment that reflects and responds to the diverse needs of our students. A central responsibility of the position is to lead the development, delivery, and ongoing enhancement of the Student Wellness Framework. This framework incorporates a range of programs and services designed to support student well-being, provide pastoral counselling, and strengthen connections between students and academic staff. This position includes a counselling role and will work collaboratively with internal teams and external service providers to identify emerging support needs, coordinate appropriate referrals, and advocate for positive student outcomes.

The role reports to the College Director & Principal and functionally is part of a wider student engagement team who work together to manage the student life cycle from beginning to end.

Key Responsibilities:

Student Support

• Provide individual and small-group counselling on academic progression, wellbeing and pastoral matters, including cultural adjustment, health, accommodation, study related stress, and personal crises, with referral to external services as required.
• Deliver short-term, solution-focused and evidence-informed interventions to support student wellbeing.
• Develop Learning Access Plans for students with additional needs.
• Support students with issues relating to accommodation, wellbeing and guardianship arrangements.
• Provide student workshops on key health and wellbeing topics.

College Support

• Lead the development and implementation of the Student Wellness Framework to promote student wellbeing and engagement.
• Monitor the welfare and safety arrangements of Under 18 students in accordance with relevant legislation and act as a contact officer for student emergencies.
• Contribute to the assessment of special consideration applications prior to meetings of relevant committees, such as the Board of Examiners and Student Appeals Committee.
• Collaborate with the university partner, professional organisations and government agencies on issues relating to support, referral, and advocacy.
• Assist the College Director in the management of critical incidents involving students.

Leadership

• Lead the Student Life team to actively engage in and contribute to strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing students personal and social adjustment to the higher education environment.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide student insights that enhance College learning metrics.
• Offer consultation and training sessions to staff, fostering student mental health and wellbeing literacy and promoting an inclusive campus culture.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with industry regulatory environment including ESOS Act, National Code, and any other regulatory frameworks that may apply.
• Ensure compliance with specific requirement of professional accreditation bodies in Counselling or other as required.

Qualifications (essential):

• Bachelor’s degree in counselling (or equivalent) or relevant degree with formal qualification in counselling, combined with a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience.
• Membership of the relevant professional association, e.g. Australian Counselling Association; Clinical member registration with Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

Selection Criteria:

• Dynamic and effective leadership and experience in managing teams in the development and delivery of counselling and student support programs, preferably in a tertiary environment.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and oral communication skills, with a proven ability to consult, counsel and liaise with a wide range people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and effectively monitor and coordinate a workload which may consist of multiple tasks of varying priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and resolve sensitive issues in a confidential manner and keep appropriate documentation and audit trails.
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, relevant legislation and policies and procedures relating to international students.

You will also demonstrate personal attributes that are congruent with ECC’s values of Respect, Drive, Adventurous, Genuine, Rigour, and Conviction. 

What we can offer 

• Professional development opportunities across our global operations
• Recognition and rewards
• A range of health and wellness initiatives
• A vibrant and supportive team environment
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Salary packaging

Diversity Equity and Inclusion 

• At ECC we promote and embrace an inclusive and diverse workforce. We believe equality, flexibility, and diversity deliver a rich collaborative environment. We strive to ensure that all our staff – no matter where they are from or who they are – feel safe, supported, and given opportunities to thrive.
• We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, of all ages and genders, First Nations and Indigenous peoples, and people of diverse community groups. 

How to Apply

Apply online to lodge your application by submitting a current CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability against the selection criteria (maximum two pages). Applications close 5pm Friday 1st May, however, we reserve the right to progress or confirm applicants prior to close date. The deadline may be extended pending the recruitment process.

For enquiries about the position, please contact Amanda Peterson, College Director and Principal, [email protected]. To view other opportunities, please visit navitas.com/careers 

All applicants must have full working rights within Australia to be considered. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current National Police Clearance.