Head of Learning Area - Science - Mathematics

Overview Head of Learning Area - Science - Mathematics Branch

Tom Price Senior High School Division: Independent Public School - Pilbara Education Region Salary: Level 3, $137,428 - $150,385 per annum (pro‑rata) (SEA GA 2023) Work Type: Permanent – Full Time FTE: 1 Location: Tom Price Closing Date: 2025‑12‑15 04:30 PM

This is a permanent, full‑time position commencing Term 1, 2026.

Escape the ordinary.

Join the team at Tom Price Senior High School – the ‘Jewel’ of the Pilbara.

Where Students Shine and Careers Thrive

Imagine waking up to a breathtaking Pilbara sunrise, just a short walk from work – it’s just the beginning! You can spend your evenings exploring local water holes, and weekends camping, or discovering the ancient gorges of Karijini National Park. Tom Price offers a lifestyle where adventure and connection await. You’ll join a vibrant, multicultural community with deep roots in the ancient Aboriginal heritage of the Eastern Guruma people. Beyond your career, you can immerse yourself in a thriving local arts and culture scene, surrounded by stunning landscapes and a down‑to‑earth atmosphere.

At Tom Price Senior High School (SHS), we’re dedicated to empowering our students to achieve their full potential in a supportive and welcoming learning environment. Our vision is to inspire a passion for learning in every student and foster a community where diversity is celebrated, and personal bests are achieved. We live by our core values of Respect, Inclusivity, Personal Best and Responsibility which guide everything we do. We offer a wide range of educational programs, including both Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) options.

Our strong partnership with the University of Western Australia’s ASPIRE program has a proven track record of helping our Year 12 students gain university acceptance. Our VET program thrives with the support of local businesses and industry, providing students with invaluable real‑world learning experiences and nationally accredited vocational qualifications.

Our commitment to integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education through project‑based learning in partnership with the Centre of Resource Excellence (CoRE Academy) Program connects curriculum to industry, setting students on a pathway to success.

Our Emergency Services Cadet Corps, with over 100 cadets, offers hands‑on training in first aid and fire safety, providing leadership and other lifelong skills. The program is highly recognised, having won multiple awards, including the prestigious Cadet Unit Achievement Award at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Youth Programs Awards and is considered one of the strongest cadet units in Western Australia.

We’re also proud to partner with the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation and the Follow the Dream program to support our Indigenous students in achieving outstanding success.

Come join us and bring your unique skills and passion to a community where you can truly make a difference, inspiring the next generation in the heart of the Pilbara.

Find out more about our school by visiting or, and teaching at Tom Price SHS by viewing the video below.

Location and Community Tom Price sits within the Shire of Ashburton and is about 747 metres above sea level, making it the highest town in Western Australia and a haven for the weary traveller. It’s a modern fully‑serviced town designed to blend with the natural environment – an ideal base if you’re wanting to explore the natural wonders of the Karijini and Millstream Chichester National Parks.

The town is a picturesque, modern and fully serviced centre with a major supermarket, doctor, hospital, fuel outlets, library, primary schools, a secondary school, Technical and Further Education (TAFE), motels and restaurants. It has several parks and gardens, well maintained and providing an abundance of shade, suitable for a family BBQ, ball games or just a snooze under a tree.

Sport, outdoor life, and volunteering ethos are evident – the town has three large ovals, tennis, netball, basketball and squash courts, a lawn bowls green, an indoor cricket centre, an eighteen‑hole golf course and an Olympic‑size swimming pool. Many organisations such as SES and St John’s Ambulance offer volunteering opportunities.

The Role We’re searching for a highly capable and experienced Head of Learning Area (HoLA) of Science and/or Mathematics who will ideally serve as an integral member of the school leadership team with a commitment to whole‑school planning and review processes. This role also requires leading the CoRE Academy (Centre of Resource Excellence Program), embracing collaboration with the wider thriving CoRE Primary Schools in Tom‑Price and Paraburdoo, and leveraging the position to help students become inspired scientists through STEAM, project‑based learning delivered in and around the breathtaking Karijini national park.

The successful applicant will drive the strategic development of the Science and Mathematics learning area, ensuring the curriculum, instruction and assessment are coherently implemented and fully aligned with the school’s vision. This includes overseeing planning, development and implementation of School and Curriculum Standards Authority Courses (Years 7–12), and may include VET and Endorsed Programs, while maintaining an expert knowledge of the Western Australian Science and Mathematics curriculum.

Responsibilities

Execute comprehensive performance development and mentoring programmes to support teachers from Graduate to Lead Teacher, fostering a culture of high‑quality teaching and learning. This involves strategic delegation, using influence to elevate instructional practices that are intellectually challenging, differentiated and personalised, ensuring staff are suitably skilled.

Lead the development of effective and responsive pedagogy that recognises student strengths and learning needs, ensuring the use of valid and appropriate assessments and lead the use of assessment data to monitor and improve student learning, promoting academic success and effective use of technology.

Build and maintain a positive, engaging, safe, caring and healthy environment that meets the academic, social, emotional and physical needs of every student, ensuring each one is known, accepted, valued, trusted and respected within the school community.

About You The ideal candidate for this role will ideally have the following skills:

Pedagogical Leadership and Interdisciplinary Practice – a commitment to professional growth and developing colleagues, coupled with a broad pedagogical understanding for applying literacy and numeracy strategies, actively fostering ICT skills and driving STEAM engagement through practical applications such as robotics, horticulture and hydroponics. Enrich the curriculum by introducing your personal areas of expertise and passion, leading to inspiring and engaging learning experiences that foster similar innovation among team members.

Comprehensive Curriculum Knowledge and Data‑Driven Practice – proficiency in planning, teaching and delivering engaging, high‑quality Science or Mathematics lessons (Year 7–12), combined with skill in assessing, monitoring and reporting on student progress using data to inform teaching.

Exceptional Relationship and Community Building – highly culturally responsive with a proven ability to forge strong, positive relationships with staff, students, parents, carers and the wider community.

Proactive Leadership and Strategic Management – the ability to act as a strong practitioner to manage and monitor operations, strategically manage staff resources and scheduling, and operate autonomously to acquire and manage resources (fiscal, physical etc.), always prioritising student needs.

Effective and Trauma‑Informed Classroom Management – strong understanding of restorative practices and classroom management strategies to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, ensuring all students are engaged, challenged and supported.

Excursion Planning and Event Management – an ability to design and manage effective, authentic and safe on‑country learning experiences and project‑based learning initiatives to drive scientific and mathematical investigation. This skill set extends to planning successful showcase events for students to share their projects with parents and the community.

Professional Benefits Working for the Department of Education comes with a wide range of benefits designed to support both your professional and personal well‑being. These benefits include competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, extensive training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions. Here are some of the key benefits you will enjoy:

Attractive Country Teaching Program Allowance of $10,210 per year

District allowance of $9,299 a year

Temporary Attraction and Retention Incentive of $7,000

12 percent employer contributions to superannuation

12 weeks’ vacation leave (school holidays)

More than 20 days of other leave, including sick leave and carers’ leave

Subsidised accommodation where applicable

Free relocation

Air‑conditioning subsidy

Additional travel concessions

Teachers and School Administrators employed at Tom Price Senior High School in 2026 are eligible to receive a temporary ARI payment of $7,000 (p.a., gross – to be adjusted pro‑rata for FTE and tenure). Eligible staff will receive a percentage of th...