Coordinators’ role statement

The Follow the Dream coordinator is crucial to achieving the aims and goals of the program. Coordinators are appointed under the following conditions.

• Coordinators are appointed as Level 3 school administrators by the Aboriginal Education and Training Participation and Achievement Standards Directorate and are full time employees of the Department of Education and Training.
• Positions are appointed for a limited tenure through a merit selection process.
• As full time Department employees, coordinators are required to work a five day week and are not entitled to time in lieu.
• Follow the Dream Learning Centres operate after school hours and therefore there is flexibility for the coordinator start time. This should be negotiated between the coordinator and their line manager.
• The role of coordinators has been clearly defined and each coordinator should have a copy of the Duty Statement for the position in the Job Description Form.
• Coordinators have a focus to develop, enhance and promote the Follow the Dream program and are not to engage in additional projects that are not directly related to the Follow the Dream program. Any additional projects must have approval from the Steering Committee and the Aboriginal Education and Training’s Indigenous Participation and Achievement Standards Directorate.
• More information on the employment conditions of the coordinator can be found on the Job Description Form.

The duties of a coordinator include:

• identifying students for the program;
• consulting with all stakeholders to address site needs;
• formulating, establishing and maintaining a steering committee;
• coordinating individual support and development programs for students; and
• establishing, maintaining, monitoring and reporting to Central Office and project partners on a range of aspects relating to the program as requested.

Supervision

The school principal to which the Follow the Dream Learning Centre is attached will be the Follow the Dream coordinator’s line manager for leave approval and administrative matters. The principal is expected to provide office space for the coordinator and a space for the coordinator to operate the Learning Centre.

However, as the Follow the Dream program is an Aboriginal Education and Training Participation and Achievement Standards Directorate initiative, the coordinator answers to the Directorate on all aspects of Follow the Dream program management. Principals are not to engage Follow the Dream coordinators in any other school work, including schoolyard supervision under any circumstances unless it has a direct impact on Follow the Dream.

If coordinators or principals are having difficulties in establishing their roles and boundaries with regards to the Follow the Dream program, they are encouraged to contact staff in the Directorate for clarification.

There is a wide network of Follow the Dream coordinators throughout the state who can support each other, as well as Central Office support staff. These colleagues can be a valuable sounding board for problem-solving and sharing ideas.

[Source: Adapted from Follow the Dream Guidelines (Draft), Department of Education and Training WA, 2007]