About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

The Communications Division collaborates with key stakeholders to strategically shape and deliver communication and community engagement opportunities.

The Division is responsible for the delivery of communications on behalf of the department to support and improve Victoria's education.

The partnership allows the Division to support the Victorian Government priorities in early childhood and school education. This includes engaging with the department's workforce, supporting the implementation of policies and reforms, protecting, and strengthening the reputation of our education and providing communications support and advice to the Victorian Government.

About the Role

We are recruiting multiple senior media advisers to join the Department of Education's Media Unit

Roles available

2 x Senior Media Adviser (ongoing)

2 x Senior Media Adviser (fixed term)

The Senior Media Advisers sit within the Media Unit in the Public Communications Branch and work collaboratively among a team of media experts to manage the department's reputation in the media. These roles are the key point of contact for journalists to seek information from the department, and the senior media advisers are responsible for end-to-end management of media inquiries from journalists, including researching the issue, developing a response and managing approvals through the department. The team of senior media advisers works closely with the department's senior executives and ministerial offices to ensure media responses are accurate, timely and written in clear and concise language that represents the department's position.

This role also leads the department's proactive media work, including researching, developing and pitching positive media opportunities that promote Victoria's Education system. The team of senior media advisers provides media support and advice to more than 1500 government schools, Early Learning Victoria centres and represents the Communications Division in crisis and emergency situations.

The role will lead on proactive and reactive media relations to support the Best Start, Best Life reforms – including Three-Year-Old Kinder, Pre-Prep and Free Kinder, as well as other initiatives to improve early childhood education in Victoria. 

The role shares responsibility for the department's 24/7 media phone line on a rostered basis, and is required to work varied hours, including evening, early mornings and weekends.

Attributes

You have a proven track record in managing media enquiries, pitching stories to media, and delivering high-quality work under pressure. Familiarity with media monitoring platforms and established media or government networks is highly valued. Exceptional written and verbal skills allow you to craft messaging for diverse audiences. You exercise sound judgement with confidential communications, pay close attention to detail, and collaborate effectively to build strong relationships across teams, senior leaders and stakeholders. Highly organised and proactive, you're able to manage multiple priorities, identify compelling stories, and improve processes.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidates will hold a qualification journalism or public relations, with several years' experience in a similar role and a strong grasp of the media industry.

Key selection criteria can be found in the position description.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Mark Smith-Briggs, a/Media Manager via (03) 8688 7550 or mark.smith-briggs@education.vic.gov.au 

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 April 2026