• Fixed Term, full time opportunity until 1 August 2025
• CYF 5 Salary range $115,357 - $132,764 per annum plus superannuation
• Key role as a community liaison between African communities and Youth Justice Community Services

About us

The Department's Youth Justice Service provides programs and resources to assist young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage their lives effectively without further offending. Through supervision, offending related programs and linkages to appropriate support services, the youth justice service promotes opportunities for rehabilitation and contributes to the reduction of crime in the community.

About the role

The primary focus of the Community Engagement Officer is to act as the interface between Youth Justice Community Services and African communities; working with case managers to strengthen cultural practice in case management and assist them with the cultural challenges associated with young offenders from an African background.

The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for the development and maintenance of supportive linkages between justice agencies and community organisations, providing policy advice, as well as promotion of relevant initiatives within the region.

In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead the establishment and maintenance of strong partnerships between justice agencies and community organisations. Your responsibilities will extend to providing strategic policy advice and championing relevant initiatives across the region.

Your primary focus will be in Melbourne's western suburbs and your support will be instrumental in locations including Werribee and Sunshine.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will demonstrate:

• A demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the African community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it, particularly in relation to young people.
• Experience or an understanding of working with young people with complex needs at high risk of offending in the community.
• Demonstrated interest in and an appreciation of a range of different cultures and actively sought to understand and effectively address the issues and views of others.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to build strong relationships, and an understanding of how to motivate others and address conflict.
• Sound written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Social Work or Diploma in Community Services Work is highly desirable.
• A full driver's licence is required due to the need to respond to emergencies across the state at short notice and outside business hours as required.
• A current employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) card 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.

For more details regarding this position, please contact:

• Piera Calandro – Youth Justice General Manager on 0407 599 057

Why work with us?

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we provide every person with the means to achieve their potential through ongoing learning and development opportunities in a diverse, equitable and supportive environment.

We look for people who are prepared to do their very best in line with our values and behaviours. Our values shape and influence how we recruit, train and develop our staff and build relationships with stakeholders. 

We will also provide you with professional development opportunities, an employee assistance program, access to job opportunities across the Victorian Government, salary packaging and much more.

For further information on our benefits please follow the link Why work for Vic (careers.vic.gov.au) 

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 reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

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.

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.