Fisheries Officer Bilingual (Trainee)

• Salary: $79,122 – $87,599 (Plus superannuation)
• Fixed-Term position for 12 months
• Usual hours of work: Full-time
• Usual work location: Swan Hill

This is an identified role, and Special Measures have been enacted for these positions under section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.  The role is intended to improve engagement with Vietnamese and Chinese communities by prioritising candidates with demonstrated cultural knowledge and understanding of these communities.

We warmly encourage applications from people with lived experience in Vietnamese and/or Chinese communities.

The Role

Being a Fisheries Officer can be a rewarding and challenging career, especially if you enjoy working in the outdoors and you have a passion for protecting Victoria's fisheries resources.

We are seeking a candidate with cultural knowledge and understanding of Vietnamese and/or Chinese communities and bilingual capability with proficiency in English and either spoken Vietnamese and/or spoken Chinese. These capabilities are essential to strengthening our relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Fisheries Officers play a key role in protecting our fisheries resources for future generations, by promoting responsible fishing practices and ensuring compliance with fisheries laws. They deliver a wide range of community engagement programs within their local operational area and, when required, across the state.

Trainee fisheries officers develop their skills under the guidance of experienced officers. They begin their career with a structured paid training program to equip themselves with the key knowledge, skills and competencies required to operate as a fisheries officer.

Key accountabilities include:

• Assist in the timely facilitation of education and engagement activities, including community engagement and prevention.
• Support the Supervising Fisheries Officer with the effective, integrated and timely delivery of services across a range of projects and administrative tasks, including completing day to day management and administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Liaise with and provide advice to community groups and other stakeholders with respect to the sustainable and responsible use of fish resources.
• Undertake Intelligence- led surveillance and enforcement activities prioritised towards serious fisheries criminal activities.
• Develop competencies as a Fisheries Officer through undertaking formal and on-the-job training including work placements and deployments to stations throughout Victoria.
• Support and assist with the implementation of problem solving, innovation and evidence-based education and enforcement initiatives by championing and applying relevant methodologies and approaches to areas of work.
• Ensure that safety and wellbeing is put first, while supporting our people, and demonstrating professionalism, leadership and accountability. Embrace diversity and ensure that everyone is treated with respect and encourage open discussion and collaboration in a respectful and safe way.
• While employed as a Trainee Fisheries Officer, the above key accountabilities will be performed under supervision.

The Team

The position of Fisheries Officer Bilingual (Trainee) will work within Community Engagement & Major Crime, Operations, which sits within the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) group.

As a statutory authority, the VFA has the responsibility of managing Victoria's fisheries resources in a coordinated and strategic way to ensure their ongoing sustainability, while supporting the value they deliver to the commercial, recreational, aquaculture and Indigenous fishing sectors.  We work with government and stakeholders to optimise the social, cultural and economic benefits of Victoria's fisheries and aquaculture industries, while promoting sustainable and responsible practices.

About You

To be successful in this role you will have the following skills and experience:

Engagement:

• Strong people and communication skills
• Friendly and engaging with the ability to build trusting relationships
• Community focused with collaborative and inclusive approach
• Bilingual language capabilities with proficiency in both English and spoken Vietnamese or spoken Chinese

Leadership:

• Promotes organisational goals and demonstrates how to achieve them
• Supports team commitment by demonstrating personal conviction
• Supports a constructive team culture

Teamwork:

• Demonstrated ability to cooperate and work well with others in pursuit of team goals
• Accommodates and works well with the different working styles of others
• Demonstrated respect and support for others including constructive workplace behaviours
• Supports the resolution of conflict within the group.

Professionalism:

• Represents the business in a professional manner and encourages others to do the same
• Models and encourages behaviours that are honest, ethical and professional
• Is accountable for their decisions and actions
• Challenges inappropriate attitudes, language and behaviour.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Julie Murphy at enforcement@vfa.vic.gov.au.   

The department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

How to Apply

Please click the ‘Apply Now' button. 

Please provide a:

• Cover letter demonstrating how you meet each of the Key Selection Criteria outlined in the Position description
• Current resume

Applications close at 23:59pm on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.