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Special Education Teacher

Colombo, Sri Lanka

This assignment has been negotiated in good faith with the Partner Organisation, and the information

contained was correct at the time of acceptance of the request.

However, while we take responsibility for matters under our direct control, all assignments and

arrangements are subject to change. This assignment may be amended or withdrawn to reflect changes

in circumstances.

GENERAL DETAILS

Assignment Title Special Education Teacher

Partner Organisation ReachBeyond Autism and Child Development Centre

Website of Partner Organisation www.reachbeyond.lk

Duration of Assignment 12 months

Start Date 20th January 2020

Australian Organisation (Remove row if not applicable)

1. PARTNER ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

ReachBeyond was set up by a group of four professional women in April 2016 - mothers of children with disabilities - with the guiding philosophy to accept, include and create empowerment opportunities for people with disabilities and their families. In November 2016 the tri-lingual parent disability support group “Parents as Partners” was formed with the aim of building a country-wide network for advocacy and awareness raising on disability.

The main beneficiaries of ReachBeyond’s work are children aged 2 – 15 with neurodevelopmental disabilities – austism, ADHD, speech delay and learning disabilities, and their parents/families. Whilst many of ReachBeyond’s programs are located in Colombo there are several outreach acitivities that are being increased in other districts of Sri Lanka.

The main activities of the organisation are as follows:

Early childhood intervention and school readiness program.

Junior group program.

Multi disciplinary clinic for therapies – remedial sessions, occupational, behavioural play therapy.

Parents as Partners advocacy and support group.

ReachBeyond has four Directors/Founders and 16 staff.

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2. ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

The goal of ReachBeyond is to enable and support the individual, family and society by

providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.

There is a limited number of special needs educators with good practical knowledge and hands-

on experience. Those currently practicing special needs education have a diploma in special

education and ‘on the job training’ in Sri Lanka.

Children with disabilities and families have to rely on a medical model for assessment and

intervention. These services are costly and Colombo centred, therefore many families cannot

access or afford good diagnosis or intervention. The Centre offers a holistic, chid-centred and

affordable option for parents.

A volunteer who is highly experienced in special education teaching and strategies can provide

high level effective training to staff, who can in turn improve the learning potential and lives of

children with disabilities and their families.

ReachBeyond is located in central Colombo which is a growing and vibrant city. Sri Lanka is

multicultural, dynamic and supportive of volunteers and is eager to build capabilities and share

knowledge.

3. ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES

Develop and enhance teachers’ special education skills; in the key areas of designing,

delivering, monitoring and evaluating student learning and behaviour programs.

Improve Special Educational Therapy capacities of staff in assessing, planning /setting up

and monitoring therapy plans and implementing the same.

Ensure the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment in the course of your work with the partner organisation and host community, including implementing strategies that relate to:

o promoting gender equality and empowering women, o disability inclusion, and o child safeguarding.

4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER

In consultation with their line manager and relevant stakeholders, Australian volunteers

complete a work plan in the first three (3) months of their assignment. The duties below are an

indication of the type of work that may be involved in meeting the Assignment Objectives:

Develop monitoring tools for identification of progress markers in children aged 1-10 years.

Provide assistance to develop cognitive and metacognitive skills.

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Strengthen capacity of staff to assess student’s abilities and learning potential and use this

information to write and monitor innovative and achievable Individual Education Plans

(IEP).

Planning accurate IEP goals to enable individual skill development and introduce best

practices.

Increase knowledge and skills in parents to carry out simple activities at home.

Contribute to the development of the afternoon programs for youth (13-17years); social development and transition programs.

Assist in planning and conducting workshops in regional locations on inclusive and equitable education. Workshops are primarily for teachers, special needs teachers, parents and cares.

Develop and/or support the maintenance of partnerships with local regional and

international organisations, local and national government and peer networks

5. SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience

Bachelors degree in Special Needs Education.

Several years of experience working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Coaching/training skills and experience.

Desirable Skills & Experience

Experience in mentoring in multi-cultural environments.

Experience of living and working overseas in a developing country and the ability to work in an under resourced environment.

6. ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION

Line Manager

Resource Manager (one of the four founders/directors).

Staff Supervision

The volunteer will be a part of the dynamic ReachBeyond team whilst also providing training

and mentoring. No direct staff supervision.

Working Relationships

It is essential that the volunteer builds good working relationships with all team members and

the four Directors who are the decision makers of the organisation.

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Hours & Days at the Partner Organisation

9.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday with occasional work at weekends to run workshops or

special fundraising events.

Leave Entitlements

All volunteers are entitled to 20 days leave per 12 months, unless otherwise advised.

Same conditions and terms as local colleagues apply, including national holidays.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional indemnity insurance is required for all volunteers who are acting as a medical,

allied health or legal professional whilst on assignment. On these assignments professional

indemnity insurance must be provided by the partner organisation, Australian organisation (if

applicable) or self-arranged by the volunteer as part of ongoing professional obligations.

For all other assignments, professional indemnity insurance is not automatically provided for

Australian volunteers. You should consult your partner organisation about the need for

professional indemnity insurance for your role prior to your departure. Where required and/or

you consider it essential for you to hold this insurance, please discuss this with the Volunteer

Services Manager in Melbourne prior to your departure.

This assignment is not deemed to require professional indemnity insurance.

Other Conditions

If required to work after hours, volunteer is entitled to time off in lieu because there is no

overtime pay provisions.

Language Skills and Level Required

Conversational language skills in Sinhala language will be required for shopping, travelling in tuk

tuks and buses and generally being part of the community. A few words of Sinhala used in the

workplace will be essential for “fitting in” initially.

Language Support

Language support is provided during the in-country orientation period. Most often, additional

resources for further development later in the assignment will be available if required.

7. LIVING AS A VOLUNTEER

Colombo is the most multi-ethnic and multi-religious city in Sri Lanka. It is also a city where

income disparities contrast startlingly: air-conditioned mansions tower next to small shacks, the

latest high tech vehicles travel alongside old, over-packed buses. Amidst all the bustle of

everyday life, it is still a friendly city that is always ready to welcome foreigners and newcomers.

As in most capital cities in South Asia, Colombo has a wide range of markets and supermarkets

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selling most food and other items. Fresh fish and seafood feature heavily in the cuisine, however

vegetarians will have a range of local fruits and vegetables to choose from.

Colombo has the most access to social activities of any city in Sri Lanka – cafes, luxury hotels,

concerts and plays, the cinema etc. However the volunteer lifestyle is not one of a wealthy

expatriate and the volunteer allowance may not stretch to all that Colombo has to offer.

Since a volunteer’s lifestyle is neither that of a tourist nor that of a wealthy expatriate, the

volunteer, when travelling by bus or shopping in the local market, is likely to be the object of

much interest and scrutiny. This would undoubtedly impose certain restrictions on the volunteer;

some lack of privacy, the need to live by accepted social norms, etc. The volunteer needs to

understand and feel comfortable with this way of life.

Sri Lankans are generally warm and welcoming and if the volunteer is prepared to make a little

effort and the first move, they will find participation in the local community and environment

very easy. The volunteer will probably receive invitations to visit people’s homes and attend

functions such as weddings, “naming ceremonies” etc. However, Sri Lankan domestic lifestyle

tends to be quiet and conservative and therefore volunteers need to be fairly self-reliant,

especially on weekday evenings when very little tends to happen.

Female volunteers may experience some form of harassment when on the streets. Generally

volunteers have found their own ways of coping and have not let it deter them in their jobs or

life in Sri Lanka. Generally Sri Lankan women do not go out alone after dark. While female

volunteers have found this restricting, they usually find ways to socialise in spite of these norms.

Public transport includes buses, private cabs and three wheelers (tuk tuks/auto rickshaws). Buses

are the cheapest form of transport and operate from around 5am until 11pm. Night travel is

limited to three wheelers, cabs and private vehicles. Transport systems such as Uber are available

in Colombo.

While Sri Lanka is quite conservative, particularly regarding relationships, Colombo is less

restrictive. Act with sensitivity to the feelings and values of neighbours, landlords and colleagues.

Although situations vary enormously, the volunteer cannot assume that having overnight guests

of the opposite sex, staying alone with them, will be acceptable to landlords, neighbours and

colleagues.

Security

Since the Easter Sunday attacks 2019 and related communal tensions there is a heightened

awareness of security and a visible security presence throughout the country.

The Australian Volunteers Program works closely with DFAT to monitor the situation and

provides relevant updates and advice to volunteers frequently. This advice could include

restriction of movement within certain parts of the country and other security measures.

8. ALLOWANCES & SUPPORT

These allowance levels are based on the Cost of Living in the host country location. Allowances

will be reviewed periodically and may increase or decrease. Volunteers will be given notice of

any change to the allowance level.

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Living Allowance

AUD $967 per month

Accommodation Allowance

AUD $815 per month

Housing

Assistance with the identification of suitable, secure and affordable accommodation will be

provided by the Partner Organisation and the In-Country Management Team. Accommodation

could be a small house or an annex attached to a family home with a separate entrance. There

will be water and electricity

Other Allowances & Support

All Australian Volunteers program volunteers receive the following:

Pre-departure Briefing in Melbourne

In-country Orientation on arrival

Pre-departure vaccination expenses

Visa expenses

Pastoral care, assignment monitoring and security guidance

Return airfare to country of assignment

Psychological and medical advice and support services

Re-entry support services

Settling in allowance (assignments longer than 6 months)

Re-settlement allowance (assignments longer than 6 months)

9. PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

As a part of your online application you will be required to answer the following questions

through a video recording (if you are unable to submit through the online video due to

accessibility please contact the Recruitment Coordinator).

Response to Selection Criteria

a) Why do I feel that volunteering internationally is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life?

b) What are the biggest personal adjustments I’m likely to have to make to be accepted as a useful colleague and engaged community member in this assignment?

c) The Australian Volunteers Program is committed to ensuring the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment, such as the partner organisation and host community. What is your personal experience and/or understanding of social inclusion.

d) How do I match the Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience? Include your most relevant experiences, results and achievements responding to each of the selection criteria in Section 5.

Personal Circumstances Constraints

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The Australian Volunteers Program recognises and values the enhanced skills and expertise of

returned volunteers as a result of their volunteering experience. The program is also designed

to maximise international volunteering opportunities for all Australians. With this in mind, if a

returned volunteer and a candidate who has not volunteered previously apply for the same

role, preference will be given to the latter, providing they meet the personal and professional

selection criteria for the role.

We are NOT able to accept applications from people with the following personal circumstances

due to security, cultural, legal or visa restrictions in this location:

Applicants with accompanying children

Same sex partners who wish to accompany applicants as part of the program may face issues in applying for and being issued with a visa

Applicants with partners to whom they are not legally married and who wish to accompany applicants as part of the program may face issues in applying for and being issues with a visa

Applicants with a criminal record where a criminal conviction may be relevant to the inherent requirements of the assignment.

10. HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be submitted online through the Australian Volunteers Program website.

If you haven’t already done so, you will need to register on our website prior to applying.

The Australian Volunteers Program is committed to increasing Indigenous participation, and we

actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you would like

more information or support with your application, you can contact our Indigenous Programs

Coordinator on indigenous.programs@australianvolunteers.com.