• Great opportunity to join Youth Justice on a fixed-term basis in Melbourne.
• Provide secondary consultation and advice to support the identification and understanding of the individual needs of young people with a disability.
• Build workforce capability in understanding and supporting young people with disability in the justice system.

 The Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for supervising children and young people in the criminal justice system, providing strategic advice, and delivering strategic outcomes to address youth crime and reduce offending behaviour.

The provision of effective support to children and young people with disability in Youth Justice is essential in working towards positive outcomes, reducing recidivism and ensuring that this cohort doesn't become entrenched in the criminal justice system. Children and young people with a cognitive disability are significantly over-represented within the justice system and understanding their unique and individual support needs is imperative to addressing their risk of recidivism. 

The Disability Advisory Team performs a clinical oversight function to support the business in delivering services informed by evidence-based research, that are safe and inclusive for all children and young people with disability.

The Opportunity

• Fixed term, full-time position until 30^th June 2026 based in Melbourne, with requirements to regularly travel to Melbourne and regional Youth Justice offices and custodial precincts.
• VPS Grade 5.1 role: $113,022 - $124,884 per year plus superannuation.
• Provide expert advice to Youth Justice staff on how to support the well-being and developmental needs of children and young people with disability more broadly.
• Provide secondary consultation to Youth Justice staff to support the transitional needs of a young person with a disability as they move through the various stages of the justice system and exit Youth Justice.
• Support Youth Justice staff to utilise effective and tailored approaches to address the responsivity needs of children and young people.
• Support staff to identify disability using appropriate screening tools.
• Provide expert advice to Youth Justice case managers and direct support to children and young people to maximise opportunities for support via the NDIS, including support to make NDIS access requests and decisions about existing NDIS participants' plans. 
• Facilitate disability-specific training to Youth Justice staff, contributing to Communities of Practice (CoPs) or events and identifying professional development opportunities in response to operational and young people needs. 
• Demonstrate leadership of respectful, safe, and inclusive cultural practices while considering the complexities of the trauma experience of young people with disability.  
• Utilise disability-specific knowledge to facilitate the brokerage assessments as required to support access to appropriate services and supports.
• Promote the establishment of collaborative relationships and partnerships between Youth Justice community and disability services, including the NDIS, and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, in the support of children and young people who have a disability.

 To be successful in this role you will have:

• Knowledge and understanding of complex cognitive presentations among children and young people and current approaches to effectively support this cohort and their forensic disability risk
• Knowledge and understanding of the characteristics and impact of disability and demonstrated experience in providing psychoeducation to a broad audience of professionals.
• Demonstrated experience in working with children and young people presenting with complex disability/ies.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, Disability Act 2006 and National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment Act 2024 and associated policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge and awareness of the key NDIS policies and procedures including the Applied Principles and Tables of Support (APTOS).
• Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development, and current trends and approaches to effectively support children and young people with disability.

• A tertiary qualification in psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, forensic disability, youth services, community services or related field.

You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, which you will need to maintain 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 – 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 Loren Coburn on 0487 523 097 or Loren.Coburn@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, Sunday 28^th December 2025.

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.