Senior Project Officer | Melbourne - CBD

Job Description

• Create real and meaningful change for Aboriginal children and young people in contact with Youth Justice by strengthening their connection to family, culture and community.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Victorian Aboriginal community who support Aboriginal children and young people under Youth Justice supervision
• Use your high-level project management skills to ensure the success of the Aboriginal Cultural Support Plans (ACSP) project and other Wirkara Kulpa intiatives.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is responsible for the statutory supervision of young people in the criminal justice system in Victoria focusing on prevention, diversion and early intervention as the most effective and fiscally responsible ways of reducing youth crime.

The Aboriginal Youth Justice (AYJ) unit at the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is responsible for the design and development of policy, strategy and program responses for young Aboriginal people in contact with, or at risk of contact with the Youth Justice system.

A key focus of the AYJ Unit is to drive the implementation of Wirkara Kulpa initiatives in partnership with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus (AJC) and under the governance of the Youth Collaborative Working Group of the Aboriginal Justice Forum (AJF).

The Opportunity

• Fixed, full-time position through to 30 June 2028, based in Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements to be negotiated with the successful candidate.
• VPS Grade 5 role: $113,022 - $136,747 per year plus superannuation.
• In partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal community and key internal stakeholders to create a new model for offering and delivering ACSPs within Youth Justice, along with other Wirkara Kulpa initiatives.
• Proactively build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders including AJC and other Aboriginal justice stakeholders, Youth Justice staff and subject matter experts.
• Prepare high level project management documents and meeting papers, that may involve integrating information from a variety of sources to influence senior stakeholders to achieve project objectives, under limited direction.
• Provide high-level advice to the Senior Project Manager on issues impacting the ACSP project, including cultural safety and operational considerations.
• Plan, coordinate, manage and deliver training to Youth Justice staff and Aboriginal stakeholders, as required.
• Provide input into high level policy and stakeholder forums which may include the AJF, AJC, the Youth Collaborative Working Group (CWG) and the ACSP Sub-Working Group, as required.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal community, both society and culture and the issues impacting it.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues that impact Aboriginal children and young people involved with Youth Justice.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating or managing projects or work activities, including experience with project management approaches such as planning, scheduling, monitoring progress and using project management tools or frameworks.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and work effectively and professionally with members of the Aboriginal community.
• A current Employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) card and a current full driver's license is required and will need to be provided prior to commencement of employment by the applicant. Currency will need to be maintained by the employee for the period of employment.

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.

What's in it for you?

You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.

There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

• Job stability – position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
• A fair salary– enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
• Transparent performance framework– approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
• Generous leave entitlements– provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program support – you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

If you have any queries, please contact Fiona Downing on 0436 358 250 or fiona.downing@justice.vic.gov.au  

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact Aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce – we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, Thursday 8^th January 2026.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.