At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we are 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 are 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 are proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

Want a challenge that could be life changing? Become a youth justice worker.

• Earn up to $100,767 per year, with a base salary of $76,817 (including standard penalty rates). 
• Secure job doing tough work that matters.
• 9 weeks of fully paid training.
• On site clinical and peer support available.
• Varied life experiences and maturity are highly valued.
• Now recruiting people with resilience, determination and empathy.

We are currently recruiting casual and full-time youth justice workers to start at Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct (Cherry Creek), a secure facility housing young people on remand or sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

The role of a youth justice worker

Youth justice workers are the frontline staff who supervise and support young people in custody (young people).

This is not a dedicated case management or youth work role. You will follow and promote important security procedures every day and be a positive role model for complex young people. You will also set boundaries and reinforce expected behaviours.

Your work will help young people get their lives back on track by:

• creating a safe and secure environment for both staff and young people
• helping young people establish healthy routines and work to a daily structure
• redirecting anti-social and challenging behaviour to the standards expected by the community
• responding to incidents as they occur
• helping young people develop positive family and peer relationships
• facilitating support from other services, including health and mental health providers, educators and disability organisations.

What you will get

This job can be tough. It can be physically and mentally draining. At times, the pressure will feel relentless and your resilience will be tested.

However, if you commit to putting in the hard work, you will see young people make small shifts in their thinking that can have a major impact on their lives.

You will be guided by supportive senior leaders and mentors, backed by a skilled team of fellow youth justice workers.

Our training and development program will also set you up to be an influential role model from your first day.

You will receive:

• 9 weeks of fully paid training
• a fair salary with generous penalty rates
• personalised professional development plans, and the chance to unlock countless career opportunities if you thrive in your role
• Extensive in-house clinical and peer support available through our staff-wellbeing programs
• 5 weeks of paid annual leave per year.

What we look for in new youth justice workers

Our recruiters search for a variety of personal characteristics when shortlisting candidates. These include:

• Dedication and resilience – you can maintain positivity and commitment even after setbacks.
• Life experience – you can adapt and manage challenging situations
• Passion and empathy – you're willing to work with young people from complex backgrounds to ensure their basic needs are met.
• Interpersonal skills – you can find common ground with young people and diffuse conflict.
• Problem solving – you can make smart decisions quickly.

Career information sessions

Register for one of our online career Q&A sessions at justice.vic.gov.au/youthjusticecareers

This is a great opportunity to ask questions about day-to-day work at our youth justice precincts and better understand the career pathways available.

Eligibility

To be considered for a youth justice worker role you must be either:

• an Australian citizen – a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or current passport is required as proof of eligibility
• a permanent resident of Australia
• a New Zealand citizen who has entered Australia on a valid passport, or eligible to work in Australia for a period of more than six months.

You will also need to pass a pre-service health and fitness assessment. Learn how your current fitness levels match up and the best ways to prepare.

Prior to starting work, all successful candidates must independently obtain:

• Current First Aid Certification (HLTAID011 is preferred, or the Provide Basic Emergency Life Support course - HLTAID002 at a minimum)
• Current CPR
• Hold a valid Working with Children Check (Employee)

A driver's licence is desirable but not mandatory.

Please apply once only for your preferred location. If you're interested in Cherry Creek and Parkville, you will have the opportunity to select both during the application process.

Priority consideration will apply to Victorian Public Service (VPS) employees who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) platform. If you are a current VPS employee, please ensure the JSE link is used for all internal applications.

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.