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?

• Great opportunity to join Youth Justice Community Services
• Make a positive difference in keeping our community safe
• Attractive salary between $103,920 - $125,735 + superannuation

An exciting fixed term opportunity exists for a Specialist Disability Advisor in Youth Justice Community Services

About us

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for the supervision of children and young people in the criminal justice system. The two Youth Justice Custodial Precincts in Victoria are managed by the department. Parkville Youth Justice Precinct is located in the inner northern Melbourne suburb of Parkville, and Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Melbourne.

Children and young people with disability in youth justice need specialised services and supports so they can participate in a way that they understand, supports their rehabilitation, and reduces their risk of reoffending. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in additional risks and challenges for children and young people living with a disability and those who manage their care.

What will the Specialist Disability Advisor do?

As part of the Victorian Government's COVID-19 response to support people living with a disability, the Specialist Disability Advisor works within the youth justice community setting to provide expert disability advice to support developmental needs, inform parole and bail planning, and provide guidance on how best to support children and young people, including referral and negotiation regarding access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In addition, the Specialist Disability Advisor will be responsible for:

• Drive the improvement of service delivery and outcomes for children and young people who have a disability in contact with youth justice, within community settings.
• Provide expert advice to youth justice community-based staff on how to manage COVID-19 risks and support the wellbeing and developmental needs of children and young people who have a disability.
• Support youth justice community-based staff to use effective and tailored communication approaches to ensure children and young people understand and comply with COVID-19 health advice and improve the responsivity of children young people to youth justice interventions and supervision, to reduce offending behaviour.

This position is based in the North Metropolitan Area and will require regular travel throughout the Northern and Western Metropolitan areas.

What skills should a Specialist Disability Advisor have?

As our ideal candidate, you will have:

• Knowledge and understanding of the disability services, youth justice and child protection systems, particularly the principles and philosophy underpinning relevant legislation and the Victorian Youth Justice program.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, Disability Act 2006 and National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 and associated policies and guidelines.
• Experience in case management and case work, including the development and management of client plans designed to meet the needs and behaviours of children and young people who have a disability.
• Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development, and current trends and approaches to effectively support children and young people with challenging behaviours related to their disability.

You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) to be maintained by the employee for the period of employment.

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 –fixed term 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 Kathy Taylor on 0412 825 371 or email kathy.taylor@justice.vic.gov.au

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.

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

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is continually working towards increasing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) workforce. The Aboriginal Employment Team aims to attract, recruit and retain Aboriginal staff across all our roles. This support includes a culturally appropriate attraction and recruitment process. To learn more, email aboriginal.employment@justice.vic.gov.au

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 Wednesday 15 June 2022.

FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

For all VPS employees, due to the new JSE policy, please apply through the JSE only to be considered for this position.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

During the COVID-19 pandemic all of our assessment processes will be facilitated remotely using online tools to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our candidates and staff.  No face-to-face contact is required, and induction training will also be completed online for those who are successful in securing a position with us.

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic).

Therefore, there is a requirement that all DJCS employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to undertake duties outside of their homes.

Prior to commencement of employment with the department you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19. Acceptable evidence includes:

1. COVID-19 digital certificate (available via your myGov account)
2. Your immunisation history statement (available via your myGov account) or
3. A letter from the GP who vaccinated you.