• Lead and manage the Aboriginal Liaison Officer Program
• Ongoing, Fulltime opportunity
• VPS Grade 6 - $142,790 - $191,084 including superannuation

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Manager, Aboriginal Youth Justice Operations within Youth Justice Custodial Services.

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About the Business Unit

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (Youth Justice) is responsible for the statutory supervision of young people in the criminal justice system in Victoria focussing on prevention, diversion, and early intervention as the most effective and fiscally responsible ways of reducing youth crime. As an area within the department, Youth Justice is committed to the demonstration of the departmental values at all times; serve the community, work together, act with integrity, respect other people and make it happen.

Youth justice custodial centres accommodate young people aged 10-18 years who have been remanded or sentenced by the Criminal Division of the Children's Court, and some 18-21 year olds sentenced by Adult Courts to a youth justice custodial centre.

The two Youth Justice custodial precincts in Victoria are managed by the Department of Justice and Community Safety:

• Parkville Youth Justice Precinct is in the inner northern Melbourne suburb of Parkville, approximately five kilometres from the central business district. 
• Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct (CCYJP) located to the west of Werribee scheduled to open in mid 2023.

The Aboriginal Youth Justice unit is responsible for the design and development of policy, strategy and program responses for young Aboriginal people in contact with or at risk of contact with the Youth Justice system. Aboriginal Youth Justice contributes to the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja, also known as AJA4.  The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Aboriginal Youth Justice Program which is focused on providing culturally responsive service delivery for Aboriginal young people in the community to assist them to remain linked to family, culture and community.

About the role:

The Manager Aboriginal Youth Justice Operations will report to the Director, Operations Support and will work closely with the Director, Aboriginal Youth Justice. As the Manager of Aboriginal Youth Justice Operations you will provide overall leadership and management of the ALO program within Youth Justice Custodial Services. This will also include oversight and supervision to the ALO Team Manager  and liaison across the broader Youth Justice program to ensure there is clear understanding of the purpose and function of the ALO Program. 

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Provide overall leadership and management of the ALO program and direct supervision of the ALO Team Leader.
• Proactively develop and maintain effective links with community elders and the Victorian Aboriginal community to maximise their input to Youth Justice custodial services.
• Provide input into high level policy forums, including Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees, to advocate for Aboriginal young people in custody and promote policies that address their over-representation.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians. 
• Strong knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, working with Aboriginal communities and advisory groups, including sophisticated and culturally aware stakeholder engagement. 
• Demonstrated experience and working knowledge government legislation, priorities and directions, including a good understanding of youth services, youth justice and community-based programs would be desirable.

Qualifications / Requirements

• VicRoads Information Check
• Drivers Licence Check(s) (if applicable).

Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and are encouraged to contact aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.auif they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For more information regarding Aboriginal employment and our Aboriginal Workforce Unit, please visit: Aboriginal employment | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria

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

How to Apply

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

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 a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) 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.