At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

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.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Utilise your policy expertise to provide support and advice to Koori Justice Unit.
• Fixed Term - 6 Months opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 5: $109,730 - $132,764 plus superannuation. 

This is an Aboriginal Prioritised position, a role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

About the Business Unit

The Aboriginal Justice group drives systemic change in the justice system, by connecting, supporting and delivering better outcomes for the Aboriginal community. We partner with Traditional Owners and the Victorian Aboriginal community to enable them to self-determine their role in policy and services within the justice sector. We collaborate with our colleagues across government to establish strong connections and build capability and awareness that Aboriginal business is everyone's business.

The Koori Justice Unit (KJU) is a unit within the Aboriginal Justice Group of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS), which has been established to help realise a clear vision of a fair and accessible justice system for Aboriginal people.

The KJU is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement - Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja - currently in its fourth phase (AJA4), in partnership with the Aboriginal community and Victorian government, in line with realising Aboriginal self-determination. The AJA has established extensive Government and Community networks through the Aboriginal Justice Forum (AJF), Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee Network (RAJAC) and the Local Aboriginal Justice Action Committees (LAJAC) and uses them to effectively deliver initiatives including early intervention and prevention programs, diversion initiatives, and rehabilitation and reintegration support.

About the Role

As the Senior Policy Officer, you will have primary responsibility for the development and coordination of Aboriginal Justice policy advice to support the implementation of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and work closely with other business units within the Aboriginal Justice group and broader department to support contribution to whole of government policy frameworks in Aboriginal Affairs. You will have responsibility for providing strategic advice on monitoring and implementation of the AJA and other Victorian and Commonwealth Government Aboriginal Affairs Frameworks.

Some of your duties will include:

• Utilising high level experience, and in partnership with Aboriginal Communities, provide strategic and operational policy advice in relation to strategic Aboriginal justice policy matters, with minimal supervision.
• Develop high level reports on complex issues including Ministerial briefs, discussion papers, and submissions, and provide analysis and strategic advice on key emerging issues for Aboriginal people in the Victorian justice system, with minimal supervision. 

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and work effectively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of policy development and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and delivering policy and legislative reform through community consultation and targeted engagement.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in law, public policy, Aboriginal affairs or similar is desired.

For further information about the benefits on offer at the Department of Justice and Community Safety, please visit: www.justice.vic.gov.au 

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Workforce Unit throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact Aboriginalworkforce@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.

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.

FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

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.